
UdVj 



Bnnk O £ <c/ & 



HISTORY 



OF THE 



/3 







s£ * ^ 






FROM ITS 



ORGANIZATION, IN 1730-1, TO ITS DIVISION, IN 1871, 



COMPILED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE VOTES OF THE TOWNS 

OF SMITHFIELD, NORTH SMITHFIELD, LINCOLN 

AND WOONSOCKET, R. I. 



BY 




THOMAS STEERE 



PROVIDENCE, R. I.: 

E. L. FREEMAN & CO., PRINTERS TO THE STATE. 

1881. 



Wet 



• 



N OTE. 



The undersigned desires to express his obligations to the Hon. 
Joshua M. Addeman, Hon. Samuel Clark, the late Hon. Charles 
Moies, and the late Thomas A. Paine, for valuable aid in the prose- 
cution of his work. He is indebted to Erastus Richardson's History 
of Woonsocket for suggestions and the smoothing the path of inves- 
tigation. 

The death of the Hon. Charles Moies and Thomas A. Paine, mem- 
bers of the town committees during the progress of the duty accepted 
by the writer, has removed from Lincoln and Woonsocket men of 
pronounced ability and character, who have left no survivors more 
embued with Rhode Island sentiment and conservatism, or more 
faithful in the performance of public trusts than themselves. As 
they were representative men in Old Smithfield, so were their acts 
and example such as to stimulate and encourage public spirit, public 
honesty and genuine patriotism. 

THOMAS STEERE. 



PUBLIC RESOLUTION 

Passed by Congress and Approved by the President, March 13th, 1876. 



Joint Resolution on the celebration of the Centennial in the 
several counties and towns. 

Be it resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America' in Congress assembled, That it be, and is 
hereby recommended by the Senate and House of Representatives to 
the people of the several States that they assemble in their several 
counties or towns on the approaching centennial anniversary of our 
national independence, and that they cause to have delivered on such 
day an historical sketch of said county or town from its formation, 
and that a copy of said sketch may be filed, in print or manuscript, 
in the clerk's office of said county, and an additional copy, in print 
or manuscript, be filed in the office of the librarian of congress, to 
the intent that a complete record may thus be obtained of the pro- 
gress of our institutions during the first centennial of their exist- 
ence. 



PRESIDENTS PROCLAMATION. 



By the Pkesidekt of the United States. 
A PROCLAMATION. 



Whereas, A joint resolution of the Senate and House of : Repres- 
entatives of the United States was duly approved on the 13th day 
March last, which resolution is as follows: 

■■Be it resolved by the Senate and House of B epresentati ves of the 
t- it.a st»t« of America in Congress assembled, that it be and is 
Sv r— ended hy *» Senate* and the House of Representatives 
to tt peop" of the several States that they assemble in then- several 
counties or towns on the approaching centennial anniversary of on 
Xna independence, and that they cause to have delivered on such 
, , t i cul sketch of said county or town from its formatio 
id la a copy of said sketch may be filed in pnnt or manuscript .» 
clerk's office of said county, and an additional copy ... pnnt or 
nl ri.t be filed in the office of the librarian of Congress, to the 
"tent that a complete record may thus be obtained of the progress of 

, .Ititotions during the first centennial of their existence and 
" " is dtmed proper that such "endation he 
brought to the notice and knowledge ol the people of the United 

"Tow, therefore, I, Ulysses S. Grant, President of the United States 
do hereby declare and make known the same, in the hope that he 
obiec of such resolution may meet the approval of the people of the 
UnUed States, and that proper steps may be taken to carry the same 
into effect. 

Given under my hand, at the city of Washington, the 25th day 
of Say, in the yea, of our Lord 1876 and of the independ- 
ence of the United States the one hundredth 

By the President, U. S. GRAIN 1. 

Hamilton Fish, Secretary of State. 



jUab uf \\ah fdfemir, &t. 



In General Assembly, January Session, A. D, 1876. 



JOINT RESOLUTION ON THE CELEBRATION OF THE CENTENNIAL 
IN THE SEVERAL CITIES AND TOWNS. 

Resolved, The House of Representatives concurring therein, that in 
accordance with the recommendation of the National Congress, the 
Governor be requested to invite the people of the several cities and 
towns of the State, to assemble in their several localities on the ap- 
proaching Centennial Anniversary of our National Independence, 
and cause to have delivered on that clay an historical sketch of said 
town or city from its formation, and to have one copy of said sketch, 
in print or manuscript, filed in the clerk's office of said town or city, 
one copy in the office of the Secretary of State, and one copy in the 
office of the librarian of Congress, to the intent that a complete 
record may thus be obtained of the progress of our institutions du- 
ring the first centennial of their existence; and that the Governor be 
requested to communicate the invitation forthwith to the several 
town and city councils in the State. 

I certify the foregoing to be a true copy of a resolution passed 
by the General Assembly of the State aforesaid, on the 20th day 
of April, A. D. 1876. 
#— ■— * Witness my hand and Seal of the State, this 

L> B> I 27th day of April, A. D. 1876. 



*~v~* JOSHUA M. ADDEMAN, 

Secretary of State. 



jUxb of \\}oU $sfanb, fct. 



Executive Department, 

Providence, April 27th, 1876. 

To the Honorable Town Council of the Town of . 

Gentlemen: — I h;ive the honor to enclose a duly certified copy of 
a resolution passed by the General Assembly, at its recent session, 
requesting me to invite the people of the several towns and cities of 
the State, to assemble in their several localities on the approaching 
Centennial Anniversary of our National Independence, and cause to 
have delivered on such day an historical sketch of said town or city 
from its formation. 

By pursuing the course suggested by the resolution of the General 
Assembly, the people of the State will derive an amount of informa- 
tion which will be invaluable to the present generation, as showing 
the wonderful progress of the several towns and cities since their 
foundation. 

It will also be of great value to future generations when the ma- 
terials for such sketches now accessible will have been lost or destroyed 
by accident, or become more or less effaced and illegible from time. 
. Therefore, in pursuance of the request of the General Assembly, I 
respectfully and earnestly, through you, invite the people of your 
town to carry out the contemplated celebration on the fourth day of 
July next. 

HENRY LIPPITT, Governor. 



LIN COLN. 



At a Town Meeting held in Lincoln, on the thirteenth day of June, 
A. D. 1876, it was 

Voted, That we hereby recommend and advise that the Town Coun- 
cil, in accordance with the contemplated action of the General Assem- 
bly, take necessary action in the matter of making the written history 
of the old Town of Smithfield, and printing the same, of which the 
Town of Lincoln was formerly a part thereof, and that the said Town 
Council be authorized to expend not more than Five Hundred dollars 
in defraying the expense thereof; the whole cost of said history to be 
borne by the towns of Smithfield, North Smithfield and Lincoln, and 
the sum above appropriated is that the town of Lincoln may pay to- 
wards the whole cost of said history in proportion to its payment of 
the old Town of Smithfield's indebtedness at the time of the division 
of the old Town of Smithfield in 1871. 



WOONSOCKET 



At a Town Council holden within and for the town of Woonsocket, 
June 15th, 1876, Thomas A. Paine was "appointed a committee to 
confer with committees appointed by other towns regarding- the prep- 
aration of a history of the old town of Smithfield." 

July 10th, a verbal report was made recommending that this Coun- 
cil make an appropriation for the purpose of the history; whereupon 
the whole matter was referred to Dr. Ariel Ballon, Spencer Mown, 
Thomas A. Paine, Charles Nourse and Darius D. Farnum as a com- 
mittee to consider the subject and make recommendations to the 
Council as soon as may be. On August 1st, 1876, " The committee 
heretofore appointed by this Council to consider and recommend 
suitable action on the subject matter of aiding in the publication of 
a history of the old town of Smithfield, make report in writing rec- 
ommending that a committee of one be appointed to confer with the 
committees appointed by the respective towns of Lincoln, Smithfield 
and North Smithfield having this matter in charge, also recommend- 
ing that a sum of money not exceeding one hundred dollars be appro- 
priated to pay the attendant expenses; also recommending that 
Thomas A. Paine, Esq., be appointed as such committee;" where- 
upon said report is received and ordered placed on tile, and it is 

Voted, That the recommendations contained in said report be 
adopted, and Thomas A. Paine is hereby appointed as such commit- 
tee, and the sum of one hundred dollars is appropriated for the pur- 
pose aforesaid. 



SMITHFIELD 



At a Town Council held at the Hotel in Greenville, within and for 
the Town of Smithfield, on Saturday, June 24, 1870, present John 
S. Appleby, Thurston E. Phetteplace, Henry E. Smith, Edwin C. 
Harris and William Gardiner, members of said Council; 

Voted, That the sum of Two Hundred (200) Dollars be and the 
same is hereby appropriated to defray the expense incurred in con- 
nection with the towns of Lincoln and North Smithfield, in compiling 
and publishing the history of the old town of Smithfield; and that 
Samuel W. Farnum be and he is hereby appointed a committee on 
the part of the present town of Smithfield to assist in the compila- 
tion of said work. 

Witness: M. I. MO WRY, 

Deputy Town Cleric. 

At a Town Council held at the Justice Court Room in Georgiavillc, 
within and for the Town of Smithfield, on Friday the first day of 
December, A. D. 1876, present John S. Appleby, president, and 
Henry E. Smith, William Gardiner and Edwin C. Harris, members 
of said Council, Arlon Mo wry, Esq., committee of the town of North 
Smithfield, for compiling and publishing a Historical Sketch of the 
old Town of Smithfield, appeared in behalf of said North Smithfield 
and the towns of Lincoln and Woonsocket, and requested this Coun- 
cil to appoint a committee to act in conjunction with the committees 
of said towns of North Smithfield, Lincoln and Woonsocket in com- 
piling and publishing said Historical Sketch; stating that the joint 
committee of the several towns proposed to assume the payment of 
the One Hundred and Fifty Dollars already paid Hon. Samuel W. 
Farnum by this town for writing a Historical Sketch of said old 
Smithfield, and that the said joint committee would consider the said 
sketch prepared by said Samuel W. Farnum as the property of said 
committee, and would make such disposition of the same as their 
judgment should determine; and upon consideration of said matter, 
it was voted that Jabez W. Mowry be appointed a committee for the 
purpose aforesaid, with authority to act, as such committee, in such 
manner as he shall deem expedient and proper. 

Witness: OSCAR A. TOBEY, 

Council Clerk. 



NORTH SMITHFIELD. 



Voted, That we hereby recommend and advise that the Town 
Council of this Town, in accordance with the contemplated act of 
the General Assembly, take necessary action in the matter of making 
the written history of the old town of Smithfield, and printing the 
same, of which the town of North Smithfield was formerly a part 
thereof, and that said Town Council be authorized to expend not 
more than four hundred dollars in defraying the expense thereof, the 
whole cost of said history is to be borne conjointly by the towns of 
Smithfield, North Smithfield and Lincoln, and the sum above appro- 
priated is that this town may pay towards the total cost of said history 
in proportion to the old town debt. 

Voted, That Arlon Mowry, Esq., be a committee to attend to the 
carrying out the aforegoing vote. 



CHAPTER I 



THE town of Smithfield was originally a portion of the 
territory of the town of Providence. The town of 
Providence was settled by Roger Williams and the men 
who accompanied him from Plymouth Colony. As Roger 
Williams gave to Providence its social and political spirit, 
and impressed upon it a character still distinct and domi- 
nant; and inasmuch as the first settlers of the town of 
Smithfield were men who moved from, and were imbued 
with the principles underlying the government of Provi- 
dence, we shall only obtain a clear understanding of their 
views and purposes by a glance at the rise and history of 
Providence up to the time that Smithfield was set off there- 
from ; and we shall only comprehend the history of Provi- 
dence by an intelligent conception of the man by whom it 
was founded. The starting point, then, of the history of 
Smithfield, is an enquiry as to who and what was Roger 
Williams. 

Roger Williams, according to the best authorities was 
born in Wales, near the close of the sixteenth century. He 
was elected a scholar of the Charter-House, June 25, 1621 ; 
and was matriculated a pensioner of Pembroke College, 
Cambridge, July 7, 1625. He took the degree of Bachelor 
of Arts, January, 1627. He sailed from Bristol, England, 
with his wife Mary, in the ship Lyon, December 1, 1630, 
and after a voyage of sixty-six days, arrived off Nantasket, 
February 5, 1631. This man, in the very flush of early 



1 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 

manhood, who had been educated in the learning of the 
schools, who had so well improved his opportunities as to 
receive the friendship and esteem of the wisest and best in 
England, and the confidence and companionship of the ablest 
in the colonies, was soon invited to become teacher of the 
Boston Church, which proposition he declined because he 
"durst not officiate to an unseparated people." Without 
stopping to discuss ecclesiastical doctrines or forms, it is 
noticeable that the very first moment in which Roger Wil- 
liams relates himself, or is called upon to connect himself 
especially and responsibly to the people, he makes his con- 
duct a point of conscience. In itself the offered pastorship 
might well enough have been undertaken by Roger Wil- 
liams, but his scruples would not permit him to endorse 
what he thought to be a deficient evidence of faith, even 
by implication. 

In April, 1631, he was invited to the church at Salem, 
but the authorities interfered, and during the summer he 
went to Plymouth, where he became assistant to Ralph'Smith. 
Here again, and so soon his restless mind and teasing con- 
science urged him to compose a " treatise ' against the 
Patent, which brought him into collision with the magis- 
trates, but upon submission, he was relieved from the threat- 
ened censure. Before the close of 1633, he returned to 
Salem, assisting the Rev. Mr. Skelton, but "in not any 
office." In August, 1634, after the death of Skelton, he 
was called to be teacher to the church. In November, 
1634, he was summoned before the Court for having broken 
his promise " in teaching publicly against the King's patent." 
But at the March session, proceedings were again suspended, 
on the ground that his action sprang from " exemplary con- 
science rather than seditious principle." When the Court 
met again, April 30, a new charge was brought against him 
of withstanding the Freeman's oath. Early in the summer 
of 1635, the Salem Church proceeded with his ordination, 



HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 6 

which led to his being cited before the Court, July 8, on the 
ground that "being under question for divers dangerous 
opinions" he had been called " in contempt of authority ' 
to the office of teacher. At the October session of the 
Court, sentence was passed upon him, requiring him lt to 
depart out of this jurisdiction within six weeks/ 1 Being- 
seized soon after with a serious illness, he was permitted to 
remain till spring, but as he persisted in maintaining and 
promulgating his opinions, it was decided in January, 1636, 
to send him to England. He fled to the forest. For four- 
teen weeks he wandered in the woods " not knowing what 
bread or bed did mean.'" In the spring of 1G36, he began 
to "build and plant" at Seekonk, but in June, in conse- 
quence of a friendly intimation from the authorities of Ply- 
mouth that he had settled within their bounds, set about 
finding, as he hoped, a permanent abiding place. In June, 
looking across the Seekonk river, he saw a pleasant land 
crowned with noble trees just bursting into luxuriant foliage. 
The waters northward were attractive in their placid beauty. 
Behind was one irate colony, and another inhospitable; 
before him was the Indian, whom he knew, and no white 
man to disturb, or be disturbed. Hitherto, however one 
may partition the indiscretions or the wrongs, Roger Wil- 
liams had found in America neither peace, nor the oppor- 
tunity for doing good. If, as must be confessed, he was 
legally wrong in impugning the validity of the Massachu- 
setts patent, it was because of a principle which he honestly 
and fully carried out when his time and temptation came. 
The Great and General Court of Massachusetts had exer- 
cised its authority ; Plymouth had warned him away ; how 
would the red man receive him as one who came among 
them to stay. The future was as impenetrable as the forest 
at midnight. One could only predict that whatever might 
come to pass Roger Williams would be Roger Williams still. 
And here it is proper to ask in what spirit, and for what 



4 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 

purpose Roger Williams came into this then wilderness 
where only one white man, William Blackstone, had pre- 
ceded him in 1635, and who had settled at Study Hill, 
within the limits of the Plymouth Colony, now Cumberland, 
and on the banks of the Pawtucket, now called Blackstone 
river. It was ho worldly ambition which impelled Williams 
forward ; nor was it a simple desire for a peaceful and inac- 
tive life. No idea had entered his mind of forming a State. 
The five companions whom he permitted to cross the See- 
konk with him in his canoe, he brought at their request and 
from motives of compassion. His purpose was to preach to 
the Indians. In his own expressive language : " My soul's 
desire was to do the natives good. 11 He was well educated; 
he had seen the power exercised by, and the great deference 
paid to the leaders in the colony of Massachusetts Bay ; in 
learning he was their equal ; in ability to gain the friendship 
of, and deal with the natives their superior, but he sought 
no personal aggrandizement, he was in heart and in intent a 
missionary to the heathen. And we may readily accept his 
own interpretation of his aims because his whole life bore 
out and exemplified the professions he made. 

Nor did he come unprepared for his work. He had al- 
ready studied with equal diligence and effect the language 
of the natives; he had "lodged with them in their filthy 
smoky holes ; ' he had learned their ways, and had dis- 
ciplined himself to bear with, and by kindness to control 
them. Moreover, as he had conscientiously written against 
the King's patent in Massachusetts, so here he honestly 
acknowledged the rights of the aborigines, and procured of 
them the titles to the land he wished to acquire. He bought 
of the Indians, but not alone by presents or commercial pur- 
chase. " It was not," he says, " thousands, nor tens of thou- 
sands of money that could have bought an English entrance 
into this bay, but 1 was the procurer of the purchase by 
that language, acquaintance and favor with the natives, and 



HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SM1THFIELD. 5 

other advantages, which it pleased God to give me." The 
land was deeded to Williams by Canonicus and Miantono- 
mi, and was his own individual property " as much as any 
man's coat on his back.' 1 But desiring to make his purchase 
" a shelter for persons distressed for conscience," he "com- 
municated his purchase unto his loving friends." Now he 
has included in his benevolent purposes others besides the 
Indians, deeds an equal share with himself to twelve who 
were his companions, "and such others as the major part 
shall admit into the same fellowship of vote." And so was 
formed a Commonwealth in " the unmixed form of a pure 
democracy." 

The first written compact so far as is now known, was in 
these words: "We whose names are hereunder, desirous to 
inhabit in the town of Providence, do promise to subject 
ourselves in active or passive obedience to all such orders 
or agreements as shall be made for public good of the body, 
in an orderly way, by the major assent of the present in- 
habitants, masters of families, incorporated together into a 
town fellowship, and such others whom they shall admit unto 
them, only in civil things." Such was the foundation, not 
only of a "lively experiment" in government, but of a com- 
munity in which the line of demarcation between the tem- 
poral and spiritual power was for the first time in the history 
of the world definitely and emphatically drawn. Obedience 
to the political authority, in a word to the government was 
to be, and only to be "in civil things." The doctrine of 
these men was not toleration, but liberty in religious belief. 
Law, Order, Liberty of Conscience. Upon this basis was 
the government of Providence founded. And to-day the 
spirit of this band of pioneers rests upon and actuates the 
citizens of Rhode Island. The statute book, the tone and 
temper of the people, the institutions, the peculiarities of 
our several local communities bear witness as well to the 
vividness as to the strength of this theory of government. 



6 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 

And under this plain compact, and under a King's Charter, 
and under a written Constitution, ever and alike the demo- 
cracy and the religious liberty of the Commonwealth have 
been maintained. 

The earliest conveyance of. land, to be found in the 
records of Providence, is in these words : 

" At Nanhiggansick the 24th of the first month commonly called 
March, in the second year of our plantation or planting at Mooshausick 
or Providence. Memorandum, that we Cannannicns and Meauntono- 
mi, the two chief sachems of Nanhiggansick, having two years since 
sold unto Roger Williams, the land and meadows upon the two fresh 
rivers called, Mooshausick and Wonasquatucket, do now by these 
presents, establish and confirm the bounds of those lands from the 
river and fields at Pawtucket, the great hill of Neotaconkonitt on 
the north west, and the town of Masapauge on the west. As also in 
consideration of the many kindnesses and services he hath continually 
done for us, both with our friends of Massachusetts, as also at Quin- 
ickicutt and Apaum or Plymouth, we do freely give unto him all that 
hind from those rivers, reaching to Pawtuxet river, as also the grass 
and meadows upon the said Pawtuxet river. In witness whereof we 
have hereunto set our hands. 




The mark of ^^"^ i r V^ C'anuaunicus. 



The mark of / Meauntonomi. 



In presence of 

The mark of J>C Seatash. 



'i' 



The mark of ^ Assotemewit. 

1G39 Memorandum 3 mo. 9th day. This was all again confirmed 
by Miantonomi, he acknowledged this his act and hand, up the streams 
of Pawtucket and Pawtuxet without limits, we might have for the use 
of our cattle. Witness hereof 

Roger Williams. 

Benedict Arnold." 

There is a copy of a deed from Roger Williams, or rather 
an informal grant from him, known as his "Initial deed,'' in 



HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHF1ELD. ( 

whit'h he grants his "loving friends and neighbors" equal 
right and power of enjoyment and disposal of his purchase, 
together with such as the major part shall admit into the 
same fellowship of vote with us. This conveyance makes 
no mention of the lands on the Pawtucket river. This 
" Initial deed " was confirmed in technical language by deed 
of 1661, which deed Mary, the wife of Roger Williams also 
signed. The u Initial deed " was also again confirmed, the 
names being written out in full, the 22, 10 mo. 1666, so 
called. 

During the first years of the colony the government was 
as has been said, a pure democracy. Town meetings were 
held monthly ; notice was required before any person could 
be voted in as a member of the community ; a fine was im- 
posed upon every person absent from any town meeting ; 
the town granted the allotments of land to new-comers ; 
every person was held to improve his or her grounds ; 
every person was prohibited from selling " his field or lot 
granted in our liberties to any person but an inhabitant, 
without consent of the town.' 1 And the town assumed and 
exercised the right of withholding the liberty 6f voting 
from any one who should be guilty of u breach of cove- 
nant " with the town. 

The first departure from the principles and practice of a 
pure democracy was made in 1640. It was now four years 
since the six had landed at "What Cheer" rock; already 
there were "many differences" in the small community 
which had gathered about the first settlers ; but no differen- 
ces which they were not willing equitably, peaceably and 
economically to adjust. It may well have been also, that 
although the number of the inhabitants was so small, they 
found it necessary to contrive a more speedy method of 
doing business than by general vote ; and this all the more 
that the town was as yet the legislature and the court. The 
few bore the burdens; the many were indifferent; except 



8 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 

upon special occasions there was a lack of energy in the 
government ; special ability and determination were needed, 
not only for special occasions but for the better ordering and 
carrying out of the general and growing affairs of the town. 
How cautiously and considerately the change was made is 
apparent from the terms of the compact. Satisfied that 
some portion of the sovereign power must be delegated, 
the inhabitants parted with it charily, and hedged about the 
authority of their representatives, forms, and the frequent 
recurrence of elections in a way to prevent its abuse as 
much as possible. It was an endeavor to infuse into the 
government more certainty and security of operation, at the 
same time retaining individual liberty, and the right of ap- 
peal to the whole body. 

This characteristic and important document provides: 
For the partition of the lands ; and that the disposal of 
the lands belonging to Providence as distinguished from 
Pawtuxet shall be in the whole inhabitants by the choice of 
five men for general disposal ; that townsmen shall be re- 
ceived after six days 1 notice; that the five disposers have 
the disposal also of the town's stock and all general things, 
and that an appeal shall lie from the disposers to the general 
town meeting. That as formerly hath been the liberties of 
the town, so still to hold forth, liberty of conscience. That 
differences and offences should be disposed of by arbitration. 
But "all the whole inhabitants" should combine to assist 
any man in the pursuit of any party delinquent. That 
every man should have a deed of his lands. That the five 
disposers meet monthly "upon general things, 1 ' and be 
chosen every quarter. That the general town meeting be 
held every quarter. As moderate as was the delegation 
of power to the disposers in point of time, it will be noticed 
that the pure democracy resumed its authority every three 
months ; and that no man could be received without notice 
to the inhabitants. And also that the liberty of conscience 



HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 9 

was reiterated. The jealousy of delegated power could 
hardly further go, nor have we, nor has the world up to this 
day progressed beyond, nay ! we have not come up to the 
judicious, judicial and inexpensive method of determining 
disputes initiated by our ancestors in 1640. 

On the 14th day of March, 1644, Roger Williams ob- 
tained from the committee of the English Parliament, " The 
Incorporation of Providence Plantations in the Narragansett 
Bay in New England." By the charter full power was con- 
ferred upon the Plantations " to rule themselves and such 
others as shall hereafter inhabit within any part of the said 
tract of land, by such a form of civil government, as by 
voluntary consent of all or the greatest part of them shall 
be found most serviceable in their estates and condition ; 
and to that end, to make and ordain such civil laws and con- 
stitutions, and to inflict such punishments upon transgres- 
sors, and for execution thereof so to place and displace 
officers of justice as they or the greatest part of them shall 
by free consent agree unto ; Provided, nevertheless, that the 
said laws, constitutions and punishments for the civil gov- 
ernment of the said plantations, be conformable to the laws 
of England, so far as the nature and constitution of the 
place will admit. 11 Hitherto the three colonies of Provi- 
dence, Acquedneck and Warwick had been entirely inde- 
pendent of each other. Isolated from the neighboring 
colonies in sentiment, and not united with each other in 
alliance against the Indians; without authoritative govern- 
ment as against the jurisdictional demands of the Massachu- 
setts and Plymouth colonies, threatened on the one side by 
the Puritans, and on the other by the Indians, the charter 
of 1644 came to unite, to strengthen, to encourage and 
to dignify the Providence Plantations. 

This charter emanated from an authority which none of 
the New England colonies could dispute ; it was full and 
free; it ratified the " soul-liberty ,: of the people; it pex*- 



10 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 

mitted all reasonable and desirable freedom in legislation, in 
that the laws were not to be restricted to the rigid rules of 
the laws of England, but were to be made to conform to the 
" nature and constitution " of the country, the times, the cir- 
cumstances and purposes of the incorporators and their fel- 
lows and successors. Roger Williams arrived in Boston 
with this charter on the 17th of September, 1644, and 
traversing the same parts through which he had first reached 
the shores of the Seekonk, he was met by the inhabitants of 
Providence in fourteen canoes, and escorted across the river 
amid the acclamations and rejoicings of a community which 
recognized in him its founder, administrator and most potent 
preserver and benefactor. A few years before Roger Wil- 
liams had crossed that water with the five whom he had 
brought out of pity for their destitute condition. Then he 
was an exile; now he brought the charter of a State. Then 
he was welcomed only by the aborigines; now he was re- 
ceived by friends who appreciated his capacity and his good- 
ness. Then he left civilization for the companionship of the 
Indians ; now he returns to home, to a peaceable and orderly 
government, to the delights of civil and religious labor and 
advancement. Then he came as a solitary and dependent 
man ; now he comes bearing the seal, and under the protec- 
tion of the flag of England. 

Notwithstanding the rejoicings at the reception in the fall 
of that year of the colony charter of 1644, for various rea- 
sons the government was not organized under it until May, 
1647. On the 18th of that month not only the committees 
appointed by the towns of Providence, Portsmouth, Newport 
and Warwick, but a majority of the inhabitants of the said 
towns met at Portsmouth. It was in fact a meeting of the 
corporators to accept the charter, and to frame a govern- 
ment for the colony. They appointed a General Assembly 
of the whole colony to be holden annually, "if wind and 
weather hinder not," on the Tuesday after the 15th of May, 



HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 11 

at which the General Officers of the colony were to be 
chosen. These officers were a President, one Assistant 
for each town, a General Recorder, a Public Treasurer, 
and a General Sergeant ; afterwards a General Attorney and 
a General Solicitor were added. Such of the colony as 
could not attend the General Assembly, had the right to 
send their votes for these officers by some other persons ; 
hence the origin of the terms prox, and proxy votes, as ap- 
plied to mode of voting for State officers in Rhode Island, 
prior to the adoption of the Constitution. Each town had 
the nomination of one person for each of the offices of 
President, Recorder, Treasurer and Sergeant, and of two 
persons for each Assistant, from whom the election was to 
be made. The President and Assistants, composed the Gen- 
eral Court of trials. They had jurisdiction over all aggra- 
vated offences, and in such matters as should be, by the 
town courts, referred to them as too weighty for themselves 
to determine, and also, of all disputes between different 
towns, or between citizens of different towns and strangers. 
They had two sessions each year. All questions of fact 
were determined by a jury of twelve men. The town 
courts had exclusive original jurisdiction over all causes 
between their own citizens. The President was Conservator 
of the Peace throughout the colony, and the Assistants in 
their respective towns. All legislative power was ultimately 
in the people, in General Assembly. Laws might be origi- 
nated in the town, or in the General Assembly, but it was 
only by a vote of the majority of the electors of the colony 
that they were enacted into law to hold until the next Gen- 
eral Assembly. It was declared in the code of laws which 
had been drawn up and sent to the several towns for exam- 
ination, before the meeting of this General Assembly, and 
which was by it adopted, that: "The form of Government 
established in Providence Plantations is Democratical, that 
is to say, a government held by the free and voluntary con- 



12 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 

sent of all or the greater part of the free inhabitants." The 
code contains nothing concerning religion. The first com- 
pact of the inhabitants of Providence concerning govern- 
ment was in, and as to "civil things only ; ' the charter was 
silent as to religion, and this, the first code of laws enacted 
for the colony by its reticence permitted and guaranteed the 
largest liberty of conscience in religious matters. It was, 
indeed, expressive silence. 

In 1650 it was "ordered that the Representatives Court, 
shall always consist of six discreet, able men, chosen out of 
each town, for the transacting of the affairs of the common- 
wealth." They were empowered to pass laws, which were 
to be sent to each town within six days, there to be con- 
sidered and canvassed within three days. Those persons 
who disapproved of the proposed laws were to send their 
votes to the General Recorder within ten days, and unless it 
appeared that a majority of the freemen of the colony dis- 
approved them, they remained in force as enacted by the 
Representatives. This was a marked improvement upon 
the laws of 1647 in that it stimulated the General Assembly 
to initiate laws for the general good, required only dissen- 
tients, in the towns, to vote and rendered more permanent 
the legislation of the colony. 

At a special General Assembly holden in Warwick, in 
March, 1649, a charter was granted to the town of Provi- 
dence. This charter gave the town the same freedom and 
powers within its own jurisdiction as the colonial charter 
had bestowed upon the colony. 

In the summer of 1651, William Coddington returned 
from England, bringing: with him a commission from the 
Council of State, signed by John Bradshaw, constituting 
him Governor of the Islands of Rhode Island and Canoni- 
cutt during his life. The colonial government under the 
charter was thus annihilated. The alarm in Providence and 
Warwick was almost equalled by the consternation on the 



HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 13 

islands. The only power left the people of Portsmouth and 
Newport was that they might appoint a council of six men 
to be approved by Coddington. In one word Coddington 
was appointed Dictator for life. John Clark was sent by 
the island towns, and Roger Williams by the towns of Provi- 
dence and Warwick, to England to procure the abrogation 
of the authority granted to Coddington, and to attend to 
the interests of the colony. In the meantime the Court of 
Commissioners, being the committees of Providence and 
Warwick, met at Providence and determined to continue 
under the charter, making laws and choosing officers as 
before. And this was the technical and sensible course, for 
although the colonial government as under the charter was 
destroyed, the power given to Coddington by the Council 
of State did not repeal the charter so far as it related to, 
and affected Providence and Warwick. . 

And yet when in 1652, William Dyre arrived from Eng- 
land with the repeal of Coddington's authority, and wrote 
to the towns of Providence and Warwick, naming a day 
when he would meet all the freemen who chose to appear at 
Portsmouth, the committees of the towns of Providence and 
Warwick, although they carried a letter from the Commis- 
sioners of the towns to Portsmouth, would not agree that 
the General Assembly to hear the orders of Council should 
meet at Portsmouth. They insisted that the mainland towns 
were the Providence Plantations ; that their charter had 
never been vacated. The island towns declared that as 
they formed the larger part of the colony, and had the 
greater interest in the matter, the Assembly should meet 
there. Both parties were right, and both were wrong. 
The mainland towns were the survivors under the charter; 
if it was to be revived in full they were certainly entitled to 
take precedence in the proceedings. On the other hand the 
allegation of the greater importance of Newport and Ports- 
mouth was true. Both parties were wrong in permitting a 



14 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 

mere matter of etiquette to prevent for a moment the reun- 
ion of the colony, and in postponing for an indefinite time 
the progress which could only be made by a common effort, 
and mutual good offices. . It was only in May, 1654, that 
the General Assembly resumed its full and former functions. 
Only one General Assembly was held in that year, and in 
appearance and in form the colony was again one and united. 

In September, 1658, Richard Cromwell succeeded to the 
supreme authority in England, as Lord Protector, upon the 
death of his father, Oliver Cromwell; and in May, 1659, 
the General Assembly addressed a letter to : " The most 
Serene and Illustrious, His Highness, the most renowned 
Richard, Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England, 
Scotland and Ireland, and the dominions thereto belonging," 
asking a confirmation of their charter. It was never pre- 
sented, as the Protector had resigned his power before it 
reached England. On the 8th clay of June, 1660, Charles 
the Second entered London. The restoration was complete 
in form and in substance. The entry of the King into his 
kingdom was a triumphant one, all classes joining in receiv- 
ing him as the guarantor of peace and order. Upon the 
receipt of this news a special session of the General Assem- 
bly was called to meet at Warwick. His Majesty's letter to 
Parliament, his declaration and proclamation were read and 
entered upon the records. The King was formally pro- 
claimed the next morning in the presence of the General 
Assembly ; it was ordered that all legal process should issue 
in his name, and a commission was sent to John Clarke, in 
London, confirming his position as agent for the colony, and 
desiring him to obtain a confirmation of the charter from 
the Crown. 

From this time until 1663, the colony was, legally speak 
ing, a law unto itself. The restoration of Charles technically 
abrogated the authority of the Parliamentary charter. Amid 
disputes, and dangers ; the confusion of land titles, and the 



HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 15 

aggressions of the neighboring colonies, the inhabitants of 
the Providence Plantations waited in doubt for a conclusive 
letter from their agent. For twenty years the inhabitants 
had recognized as their sovereign authority a power which 
by the restoration of Charles was declared to be a rebellious, 
illegal and void power. The Parliament and Cromwell had 
not been treated as a government de facto in the sense in 
which one government accepts the actual government of 
another nation ; they had been appealed to, and their action 
asked as though they were de jure the sovereign power. 
The Plantations were in bad odor with their neighbors, 
and their neighbors were strong. Both Massachusetts 
and Connecticut claimed jurisdiction in Rhode Island ter- 
ritory, and Massachusetts was well known and had great 
influence in England. The liberty of Rhode Island, the 
Puritans deemed licentiousness. The principles upon which 
her government was founded were in utter opposition 
to the monarchical theories of England as well as to the 
doctrine of the divine right of Kings, of Charles Stuart. 
Her very freedom in religious matters made her the oppro- 
brium of the other colonies, as it would have astonished and 
dismayed the church and sectarists of England. And Mr. 
Clarke, in his addresses to King Charles asserted that the 
people of Rhode Island "have it much in their hearts, if 
they may be permitted to hold forth a lively experiment, 
that a flourishing civil state may stand, yea, and be best 
maintained, and that among English spirits, with full liberty 
in religious concernments." A potent argument one would 
think to address to the Merry Monarch! 

The lono- continued efforts of Clarke were at last success- 
ful. In November, 1663, the General Court of Commission- 
ers — the General Assembly, met at Newport, for the last 
time under the Parliamentary patent to receive the Royal 
Charter of Charles II. Then ended the government of the 
colony under the charter of the Council of State. There was 



16 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 

no longer the incorporation of Providence Plantations. The 
charter of 1644, had nevertheless been of inestimable service. 
It had bestowed upon an aggregation of individuals a polit- 
ical existence ; it had thrown over and around them in their 
direst need the protection of a powerful nation ; it had con- 
solidated the Rhode Island colonies in a degree which en- 
abled them to make progress in order and in security. It 
did not meet all the necessities of the case, any more than 
did the Confederation of the States fulfill the functions of 
the national Constitution, but it was a step in the right 
direction, and an immense gain over the hitherto almost 
anarchic condition of the towns as to their relations with 
each other. Less than thirty years have elapsed since Roger 
Williams first set foot upon Rhode Island soil ; a large terri- 
tory, including one of the fairest islands of the sea has been 
acquired ; government has been established ; the six have 
grown into a goodly number ; there are villages, and plenty, 
and liberty, and an independence of spirit which has de- 
scended in direct line, and ample vigor to our own times. 
Already self-government was the proved rule as well as 
theory ; already every principle of liberty regulated by law 
had been enunciated ; already the towns were the schools of 
statesmanship, and already the Rhode Island character had 
assumed the traits of energy, activity, openness of speech 
and a self esteem which at once and equally ignored inter- 
ference on the part of others, and bowed to the dictates of 
conscience. 

This charter of King Charles was all that could have 
been desired. Under it the State was an absolute sov- 
ereignty. No oa.th of allegiance was required. Religious 
freedom was guaranteed. The title of the Indians to the 
soil was recognized, as Roger Williams and his fellow towns- 
men had always recognized it. It declares "that noe per- 
son within sayd colonye, at any tyme hereafter, shall bee 
any wise molested, punished, disquited, or called in ques- 



HISTORY OF THE TOAVN OF SMITHFIELD. 17 

tion, for any difference in opinione in matters of religion 
which doe not actually disturb the civill peace of our sayd 
colonye." This charter of, and from a monarch who be- 
lieved in his divine right to govern, was expressly republi- 
can in its character. Under this charter the people of 
Rhode Island lived and prospered for one hundred and 
eighty years When it was abrogated in 1843, it was the 
oldest constitutional charter in the world. It survived the 
Stuart dynasty. It remained intact through the Revolution- 
ary war. It sufficed when, and after the State entered the 
Union. During its existence the commonwealth grew in 
population, in wealth, in influence in a degree which equal- 
led the firmness with which it maintained its original and 
distinctive principles. Now for the first time the Assistants 
were invested with legislative power by the charter, and 
acted conjointly with the deputies. Upon a question arising 
whether under the terms of the charter the State Magis- 
trates, or Council, should be elected by the freemen in town 
meeting, or by the General Assembly, it was decided that 
the right of electing these officers should vest in the free- 
men. Here we see the old and ineradicable opposition to 
the delegation of power, unless in case of overpowering 
necessity. 

The name of "Rhode Island and Providence Plantations," 
with the word "Hope" above the anchor, was adopted, or 
rather continued, upon the seal of the colony. In 1664 it 
was provided that a plurality vote should elect the general 
officers. The General Assembly exercised judicial as well 
as legislative powers, and as under the first patent the Pres- 
ident and assistants were executive officers. By the royal 
charter the governor and council became ex officio legislators 
in common with the deputies, and all alike exercised judicial 
powers. They met together as one House of Assembly. It 
is proper to notice also, that as late as 1672, there was a 
prevalent feeling that the acts of a given Assembly were not 



18 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 

binding beyond the next session. And at the May session 
of this year a striking example of popular mutability of sen- 
timent was afforded by the repeal of every act passed at the 
preceding April session. For an account of the Indian 
war initiated bv the neighboring colonies, and from which 
Rhode Island suffered so much the reader is referred to the 
history of the State. Suffice it to say that the Indians burned 
the town of Providence, and spared Roger Williams. In 
1(582, it was decided by the General Assembly that the town 
councils might reject any person as an inhabitant of the 
town, who should fail to give bonds satisfactory to a majority 
of the council ; and if any one being warned by the council 
to leave the town, should fail to do so, a warrant for his re- 
moval might be issued to the constable, and in case of his 
return to the town he should be subject to fine or whipping. 
The claims of the Connecticut and Plymouth colonies to 
the soil and jurisdiction of portions of Rhode Island at 
length culminated in the appointment of a commission by 
King Charles, for examining and enquiring into the claims 
and titles to the King's Province, or Narragansett Country. 
The summons of the commission included in the subject of 
their inquiry the territory between the rivers of Providence 
and Pauquatuck, the islands of Prudence, Cannonicut, Pa- 
tience, or any other island which were or were reputed to 
have belonged to the Narragansett Country. There seems to 
have been little question made save as to the Province ; and 
the jurisdiction of this was bestowed upon Connecticut, and 
the " propriety of the soil" to the Atherton Company. The 
death of Charles II., and the proclamation of his brother 
James II. were inauspicious events for Rhode Island. Other 
claimants to the Narragansett Country laid their claims be- 
fore the Crown, and they were referred to the Board of 
Trade. The settlers were uneasy and belligerent. A crisis 
was at hand. A quo 'warranto was issued against Rhode 
Island as against other colonies, for the purpose of revoking 



HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELI). 19 

its charter. Two clays later a President and Council were 
appointed to govern Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Maine 
and King's Province. Upon the arrival of the quo warranto, 
the General Assembly being met, and a large number of 
persons present it was determined not to stand suit with the 
King, but to proceed by humble address to his Majesty, 
asking a continuance of their charter privileges. 

Dudley, the new Governor, or President of the Council 
created a provisional government, to continue only till the 
plan of consolidating all New England under one royal gov- 
ernor could be perfected. This was done by the appoint- 
ment of Sir Edmund Andros, formerly governor of New 
York, to the supreme authority by royal commission. Andros 
was authorized to demand the surrender of the charter, and 
to take the colony of Rhode Island and Providence Planta- 
tions under his government. And the power given him 
was almost absolute. By letter from Boston, dated Decem- 
ber, 1686, he appointed Walter Clark, Jo. Sanford, John 
Coggeshall, Walter Newbury, John Greene, Richard Arnold, 
and John Albrough, to be members of his Council. The 
colonial government was subverted. A second time had the 
charter of her liberties been taken from Rhode Island. She 
was now reduced to a mere province in the broad domin- 
ion of the Captain General, and Governor in Chief of New 
England. She returned to her system of town government. 
The last act of the General Assembly had been to provide 
that it "should be lawful for the freemen of each town in 
this colony to meet together and appoint five, or more or 
fewer, days in the year for their assembling together, as the 
freemen of each town shall conclude to be convenient, for 
the managing the affairs of their respective towns." Inas- 
much as Andros and his Council had full legislative, judicial 
and executive authority, the legal value of this last act of 
the General Assembly is much more questionable than is the 
patriotic spirit which prompted it. 



20 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 

Upon receiving the news of the accession of William and 
Mary to the throne of England, in 1G89, a letter cautiously 
worded was sent from Newport among the people recom- 
mending them to assemble there, "before the day of annual 
election by charter,' 1 to consult what course should be 
adopted. The freemen of the colony assembled and put 
forth a declaration of their reasons for resuming the charter 
government, But, although the government was reorgan- 
ized it remained for ten months without an acknowledged 
governor. Walter Clarke was too cautious to accept the 
office in the uncertain condition of public affairs. This act 
of resumption was afterward sanctioned by the crown. 

At the May session, 1696, the House of deputies was con- 
stituted a distinct body; a lower house of assembly, with 
power to choose its own Speaker, and Clerk. It thus be- 
came a coordinate branch of the legislature with the assistants, 
each house having a veto upon the proceedings of the other ; 
and thus has it ever since remained. And not even a limited 
veto power has ever been conferred upon the Governor. 
The first instance of the deputies resolving themselves into 
a committee of the whole for the preparation of business 
occurred at this session. Nor was the government again 
established in its chartered authority. The charter was not 
again to be suspended or questioned, until under circum- 
stances then unforeseen, and doubtless unimaginable it- 
should be superseded by the will of the people in the at- 
tempt to secure a still broader republicanism. 

A census was taken in 1730. The population of the col- 
ony was then, Whites, 15,302; Negroes, 1,648; Indians, 
985; total, 17,935. Of Providence, Whites, 3,707; Ne- 
groes, 128 ; Indians, 81 ; total, 3,916. Of Newport, 
Whites, 3,843; Negroes, 649; Indians, 248; total, 4,640. 
This census probably included the inhabitants of " the 
Gore," now Cumberland. Roger Williams died sometime 
between January 18, and May 10, 1683. For nearly half 



HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 21 

a century he had been the foremost man in a community 
which from weakness had grown to strength ; which had 
seen the seed of liberty it planted in doubt and fear, grow 
to a tree of such goodly proportions that its shelter attracted 
the good and wise from abroad. Amid difficulties which 
would have appalled the stoutest hearts, and discouraged 
any but the most courageous and faithful minds, Roger 
Williams cluno' with the same determination to his doctrine 
of democratic government, and to his theory of the right of 
perfect liberty in religious concerns. Never seeking repose 
from labor, his enemies within and without Rhode Island 
permitted him no rest either of body or of mind. He was 
generous, as his disposition of his lands shows; he was 
firm, as is evinced by the tenor of his whole life ; he was 
honest, as the natives always testified, and as none could 
gainsay. He was a scholar, a statesman, a patriot and a 
Christian. He impressed upon Rhode Island characteristics, 
social, political and religious, which to-day are her support 
and pride. 



CHAPTER II 



AT the session of the General Assembly, held at Newport 
by adjournment, in February, 1730, (0. S.) the town of 
Smithfield was incorporated. The preamble to the act is in 
the words following : " Forasmuch as the Out Lands of the 
Town of Providence are large, and replenished with Inhab- 
itants sufficient to make and erect three Townships besides 
the Town of Providence and the Land lies convenient for 
the same ; which will be of great Ease and Benefit to the 
Inhabitants of said Land, in transacting and negotiating the 
prudential Affairs of their Town, which for some Time past 
has been very heavy and burthensome ;" and Smithfield, 
Scituate and Glocester were separated into independent 
townships. It was provided that the towns were to " have 
each their proportion of the interest of the Bank money 
appropriated to the use of the towns of this colony, ac- 
cording to the sums that the lands lying in each town are 
mortgaged for; and that money the town treasurer of 
Providence has advanced for the town before the division 
thereof, be repaid him out of the whole interest money, 
before division thereof be made." 

The significance of this latter clause we shall discover as 
we proceed. 

The territory thus set off comprised seventy-three square 
miles of land. It was bounded on the East by the Black- 
stone river; on the South by Johnston and North Provi- 
dence ; on the West by Glocester, and on the North by the 



HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIBLD. 23 

State of Massachusetts. At the time of the division of the 
town the western boundary was the East line of Glocester 
and Burrillville, the latter town having been set off from 
Glocester. Bounded on one side by the most important 
river in the State, save Providence river, it included within 
its limits the Branch, the Moshassuck, the Woonasqua- 
tucket and the Crook Fall rivers, besides other smaller 
streams which benefited and beautified it. It presented in 
its natural physical features a diversified and attractive as- 
pect. Near its northern extremity rose Woonsocket Hill, 
the highest land in the State, towering nearly six hundred 
feet above the level of the sea. Its hills were clothed with 
a luxuriant growth of Oak, Walnut, Ash, Chestnut and Birch 
trees ; its valleys were many of them rich in soil ; the 
plains were easily cultivated ; to the hardy pioneer, who 
sought to derive from nature a homely but comfortable and 
independent subsistence, Smithfield offered charming scenery, 
good land, pure water, an abundance of timber and ready 
access to the town, and to navigable waters. In its lime 
stone quarries it possessed a source of usefulness and emol- 
ument which was early utilized, and still remains in its 
development and permanence a most important industry. 
Originally a purely agricultural district, we shall find that 
in its then almost unrecognized, but eventually valuable 
water power, it owned a source of wealth which was to 
change the character of its pursuits, to swell, and affect the 
habits of its population and to cause an accession of prop 
erty of which the early settlers had, and could have no pos- 
sible conception. At the time of its incorporation Smithfield 
was very sparsely settled, its inhabitants being mainly fam- 
ilies who had pushed out into the country from Providence, 
and who were wholly in accord in their social, political and 
religious ideas, with the early settlers of that town. Smith- 
field, was, indeed, only a prolongation of Providence. The 
men who organized the town were men who had been famil- 



24 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 

iar, and who were moved with the sentiments of Roger Wil 
iams, and the freemen of Providence. They were actuated 
by the same spirit of independence, the same love of, and for 
self-government, the same doctrine of the liberty of con- 
science. They were sufficiently learned to act intelligently, 
and they were sufficiently strong to carry on, and out their 
theories. They leaned upon nobody ; they were industri- 
ous, economical, conservative and thoughtful. Their terri- 
tory was large ; their principles fixed ; in separating from the 
parent town they undertook that closer management of their 
affairs for which they were eminently capable. They were 
among the first to take their portion, and they made such 
good use of it that for an hundred and forty years Smith- 
field was a progressive, influential, important and deservedly- 
esteemed town. 

The record of the first town meeting is as follows, the 
orthography being conformed to the usage of the present 
day : "At a town meeting called by warrant under the 
hands and seals of Joseph Arnold and Jonathan Sprague, 
Jr., Esqs., Justices of the Peace, and held at the house of 
Captain Valentine Whitman in Smithfield, in the County of 
Providence, &c, on the 17, day of March, Anno Domini, 
1730 or 31 ; whereof Mr. Jonathan Sprague, Jr., was chosen 
moderator of said meeting, and Richard Sayles was chosen 
town clerk, at said meeting, and John Arnold chosen the 
first town councilman at said meeting, and Captain Joseph 
Mowry chosen the second town councilman, Thomas Steere 
chosen the third town councilman, Samuel Aldrich chosen 
the fourth town councilman, John Mowry chosen the fifth 
town councilman, Benjamin Smith chosen the sixth town 
councilman ; John Sayles chosen at said meeting town treas- 
urer ; Uriah Mowry chosen town sergeant at aforesaid meet- 
ing. Joseph Arnold, Jun., chosen sealer and packer at said 
meeting ; David Comstock chosen the first constable, Elisha 
Steere chosen the second constable, and Joseph Herendeen, 



HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 25 

Jr., chosen the third constable. Captain Valentine Whitman 
and Thomas Smith and Joshua Winsor and Jeremiah Arnold 
were chosen overseers of the poor of the town. Job Arnold 
and John Smit h, son of Joseph Smith ' Juyner' chosen sur- 
veyors of, the highways, Ilezekiah Comstock and Daniel 
Arnold and John Dexter Jun. and Jonathan Sprague minor, 
chosen fence viewers. Joseph Bagley and Daniel Matthew- 
son chosen hemp viewers. John Whitman chosen pound 
keeper. John Wilkinson and Charles Sherlock chosen hog 
constables. Richard Sayles accepted and was engaged ac- 
cording to law to the office of town clerk for the ensuing 
year before Jonathan Sprague, Justice, the day and year 
above said. The town councilmen that were chosen did all 
accept and was engaged according to law to the office of 
town councilman, before Jonathan Sprague, Justice, the day 
and year above said. John Sayles did accept and was en- 
gaged according to law to the office of town treasurer, 
before Jonathan Sprague, Justice. Uriah Mo wry did accept 
and was engaged according to law to the office of town ser- 
geant, David Comstock and Elisha Steere and Joseph Her- 
endeen Jr., did all accept and were engaged according to 
law to the offices of constables. Hezekiah Comstock and 
Daniel Arnold and John Dexter Jr., and Jonathan Sprague 
minor, did all accept and were engaged according to law to 
the office of fence viewers. Captain Valentine Whitman 
and Thomas Smith and Jeremiah Arnold all accepted and 
were engaged according to law to office of overseers of the 
poor. Job Arnold and John Smith both accepted and en- 
gaged according to law to the office' of highway surveyors. 
Joseph Arnold Jr., accepted and was engaged according to 
law to the office of sealer and packer. John Whitman ac- 
cepted and engaged according to law to the office of pound 
keeper. Daniel Matthewson and Joseph Bagley both ac- 
cepted and were engaged according to law to the office of 
hemp viewers. It was voted at said meeting that the 27, 



26 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 

day of April next is the day perfixed for the freemen of the 
town of Smithfield to meet together at the house of John 
Sayles in Smithfield in order to choose Representatives to 
send to Newport, next May Session, and also to send in 
their proxies for the General Officers of this colony, and also 
to do other business as is necessary for said town. 11 

On the 23, of March, 1731, (N. S.) the town meeting 
chose its deputies to the General Assembly ; provided its 
quota of jurors, for a settlement with the town of Provi- 
dence, and voted a bounty for killing wild-cats and wolves. 
In 1738, a pair of stocks was built, and a whipping post 
erected near the house of John Sayles. 

In 1738, the town took a most important step in develop- 
ing its resources, and providing for the comfort and conve- 
nience of its inhabitants. This was the passage of an highway 
act. Before this time there had been, in Rhode Island, no 
other law upon this subject than the laws of England, which 
were of course but ill adapted to the circumstances in which 
the then inhabitants of Smithfield found themselves. The 
"act" passed by the town was drawn with great care, and 
a precision which is evidence of the capacity of those who 
adopted it for self-government. It provided for the ap- 
pointment of surveyors, and made it their duty to inspect 
the roads within the limits of their jurisdiction, and enough 
of them were appointed to care for the highways through- 
out the town; specific provision was made for the amount 
and character of the work to be done, and every male per- 
son an inhabitant of the town, twenty-one years of age, and 
able-bodied, except apprentices, slaves and idiots, was to work 
on the highways six days in the year, and eight hours a day. 

In 1748, the population of Smithfield was four hundred 
and fifty persons ; the town was divided into sixteen high- 
Way districts, to be worked by the persons hereinafter 
enumerated, the person first named in each district being- 
surveyor. 



HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 



27 



District No 1, begun at Patience Arnold's, so to extend northwest- 
erly over the Branch River, and all the roads west and northwest of 
said river. The citizens therein were: 



Daniel Comstock, jr., 
1 1 ezadiah Comstock, 
Ichabod Comstock, 
Anthony Comstock, ' 
Richard Sprague, 
Amos Sprague, 
Benjamin Buffum, 
Samuel G-qldthwaite, 
Israel Phillips, 
Benjamin Thompson, 



Samuel Buxton, 
Benjamin Buxton, 
[ Joseph Buxton, 
.Joseph Buffum, 
Joseph Kelley, 
Providence Williams, 
John Sprague, 
Daniel Comstock, 
Benjamin Boyce, 
Adam Darkness, 



Azariah Comstock, 
Jonathan Reed, 
Thomas Cruff, 
Thomas Cruff, jr., 
Samuel Cruff, 
Jacob Read, 
Benj. Buffum, jr., 
Daniel Sprague, 
Nathaniel Staples, 
Samuel Buxton, jr. 



District No. 2, began at Samuel Aldrich (near Union village), so 
down to where the new road turns out of the old, and by the new and 
the old road to where they intersect on the Hill, a little southeast 
from the Little River Bridge — also, the cross road by Benjamin Paine 
and Uriah Mowry (on Sayles's Hill): 



John Sayles, Daniel Sayles, 

Uriah Mowry, Joshua Phillips, 

Benjamin Paine, David Herrendeen, 

Capt. Richard Sayles, Jonathan Phillips, 

Richard Sayles, jr,, Stephen Sly, 

Elisha Sayles, Ebenezer Thornton, 



Henry Mowry, 
Edward Mitchell, 
Elisha Mowry, 
Daniel Walling. 



District No. 3, began at Locusquesset Brook (near Lime Rock), and 
so up the Highway, till it comes to where two roads meet on the Hill, 
a little southeast from the Little River Bridge: 



Peter Bellowe, jr., 
John Whitman, 
Preserved Harris, 
Jonathan Harris, 



Jabez* Brown, / 
Noah Whitman, 
Nicholas Brown, 
John Bellowe, 



Valentine Whitman, Samuel Bellow, 



John Bellowe, jr., 
Jonathan Bellowe, 
Benjamin Brown, 
Manasses Kimton, 
Christopher Bullock. 



District No. 4, began at Locusquesset Brook to Providence line, 
also the Cross Road by Jonathan Arnold's, beginning at the old high- 
way by the Lime Kiln, to end where said highway intersects with the 
highway that goes by Dr. Jenckes — also the Cross Road from Abra- 
ham Scott to Pawtucket River: 



28 



HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 



Wm. Whipple, jr.. 
Jeremiah Mo wry. 
Nathaniel Bucklin, 
Benjamin Medbury, 
Win. Jenckes, Esq., 
Benjamin Arnold. 
Samuel Bagley, 
Anthony Whipple, 
Jerrh. Weatherhead, 
William Whipple, 



Benjamin Smith. 
Jonathan Arnold. 
Job Arnold, 
Amos Arnold. 
William Bensley, 
John Whipple, 
Manassah Kelley, 
Benjamin Medbury 
Caleb Arnold, 
Jeremiah Arnold. 



Jeremiah Arnold, jr.. 
William Brown. 
John Arnold, 
Nathan Tucker, 
Abraham Scott, 
John Weatherhead, 
Andrew Young, 
Christopher Jenckes. 



District No. 5, began at the Old Quaker Meeting House, so north- 
easterly and northerly to Thomas Lapham's (near Albion): 

John Dexter, John Wilkinson, jr., Ephraim Whipple, 

Jonathan Sprague, Thos. Lapham, Esq., Samuel Smith. 

William Sprague, Capt. Job Whipple, 

John Wilkinson, Stephen Whipple, 



District No. G, began at Thomas Lapham's. and so north, to Woon- 
socket Falls. (The River Road from Albion up): 



Joseph Lapham, 
Azariah Phillips, 
William Gully, 
Elisha Dillingham. 



Caleb Shrefe, 
James Jillson. 
David Patt," 
Aaron Day, 



Israel Wilkinson, 

John Rogers, 

Capt. Wm. Sprague. 



District No. 7, began at Daniel Wilbur's to Providence line — also, 
from same place to Christopher Brown's: 



Benjamin Cook, 
Thomas Woodward. 
Robert Young, 
Samuel Tucker, 
Maturin Ballowe, 
Peter Ballowe, 
Maturin Ballowe, jr., 
James Mussev, 



Obadiah Olney, 
Job Chase, 
Baulston Bray ton. 
William Olney. 
.lob n Jenckes, 
William Bradbury, 
Daniel Bradbury, 
William Pullem 



Daniel Wilbur, 
Capt. Richard Harris. 
Jeremiah Harris. 
Christopher Brown. 
Abiali Angell, 
John Olney. 



District No. 8, began at saw mill by James Appleby, to Thomas 
Sayles, and from Elisha Cook's, towards Providence line, till it comes 
to Ebenezer Herrendeen's: 



HTBTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 29 

Elisha Cook, William Baets, Joseph Mowrv, 3d, 

Joseph Page, Henry Blackmar, Silvanus Sayles, 

Ebenezer Herr endeen, John Blackmar, Capt. Daniel Mowrv. 

Thomas Sayles, Theophilus Blackmar, 

Stephen Sayles, Aaron Herrendeen, 

* 

District No. 9, began at Grlocester line, west of John Sayles, jr., so- 
easterly by Othonial Matthewson, thence northeast to Woonsoeket 

Falls — also a piece from Thomas Sayles to aforesaid road: 

Othonial Matthewson, Mikel Phillips, Samuel Aldrich, 

Daniel Smith, James Walling, Samuel Tucker, 

John C'omstock, Ananias Mowry, Thomas Smith, 

Jeremiah Brown, John Sayles, jr., Cornelius Walling, 

Daniel Phillips. John Smith, Reuben Aldrich. 

District No. 10, began at Ebenezer Herrendeen, down to Daniel 
Wilbur: 

Thomas Herrendeen, Thomas Shippe, Joseph Herrendeen, 

Henry Morton, Obadiah Herrendeen, Jos. Herrendeen, jr., 

Jacob Smith, Nathan Shippe, Francis Herrendeen. 

Thomas Shippe, jr., Benjamin Ballard. Gideon Pain, 

Christopher Shippe, John Young, Jeremiah Ballard. 

William Havens, Silas Tucker, 

District No. 11, began at Providence line, near Isaac White's, to 
the "Logway," also the Cross Road from Daniel Angell. to the Island 
Road : 

Thomas Steerc, Philip Smith, Ezekiel Angell, 

Joseph Chillson, Daniel Angell, James Young, 

Noah Smith's widow. John Angell,- Amos Keach, 

Daniel Smith, Thomas Broadway, Thomas Owen. 

Jonathan Smith, Hezekiah Sprague. Major William Smith, 

John Phillips, John Smith, jr., Daniel Smith. 

Elisha Smith, Job Angell, 

District No. 12, began at Abraham Smith's barn, so southeast by 
Smith's house, to Providence line: 

Leland Smith, Enoch Barnes, Jos. Smith, son of Jos., 

Peter Barnes, John Barnes, John Treadwen, 

Nathan Barnes, Joseph Smith, Joseph Page. 



30 



HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 



District No. 13, began at the corner of Abraham Smith's fence, 
near the Baptist Meeting House, thence, northerly by Abraham 
Smith's, so up the "Logway" to Glocester line, also the cross road, 
beginning at the saw mill bv his house, thence southerly to aforesaid 
road : 



. I aincs Appleby, Thomas Beadle, 

Capt. Joseph Mowry, David Arnold, 

George Place, Silvanus Aldrich, 

Joseph Mowry, jr., Peter Aldrich, 



John Aldrich, 
Stephen Goodspeed, 
Oliver Mowry, 
Abraham Smith. 



District No. 14, began at Glocester line, by Widow Steere's, to 
Providence line, all below Joseph Carpenter's: 

Samuel Aldrich, jr., David Evans, jr., Joseph Smith, jr.. 

Joseph Aldrich, 
Job Potter, 
Samuel Winsor, 
Hezekiah Steere. 



Robert Latham, 
Joseph Carpenter, 
Zachariah Rhodes, 
David Evans, 



Thomas Inches, 
Joshua Winsor, 
John Winsor. 



District No. 15, began at Glocester line, a little west of Benjamin 
Wilkinson, thence down to Providence line — also from Resolved Wa- 
terman's, thence southwesterly to Glocester line, by Snake Hill: 



Abraham Winsor, Samuel Irons, 

Benjamin Wilkinson, Robert Staples, 

Benjamin Wright, Andrew Waterman, 

Joshua Winsor, jr., Daniel Eddy, 



Abel Potter, 
Resolved Waterman. 



District No. 16, began at Glocester, line near Daniel Matthewson, 
thence northeasterly by his house to Wainsocket Falls, till it meets 
Cumberland in the middle of the Bridge. Also, beginning at Pa- 
tience Arnold's, thence down to District No. 2. (This was a portion 
of the Great Road to Sayles Hill, and South Main Street, west to 
Burrillville): 

Joseph Comstock. Seth Arnold, 

Hezadiah Comstock, Moses Arnold, 
David Comstock, Esq., Abraham Loja. 

Thomas Man, Philip Loja, 

Capt. Daniel Arnold, Jeremiah Comstock. 

Widow Patience " Oliver Man, 

Lieut. Thos. Arnold. Caleb Aldrich. 
William Arnold, Esq., 
John Arnold, 



Nathan Staples, 
Seth Cook, 
Nathaniel Eddy, 
Elisha Arnold, 
Richard Arnold, 
Stephen Arnold, 
Samuel Cook, 
John Man, jr., 
Samuel Aldrich. 3d, 



HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 31 

The business transacted by the first Town Council, at its 
first meeting was eminently significant. A committee was 
appointed to arrange the monetary matters between the 
town and the town of Providence; sundry persons were or- 
dered to be cited before the council " to give their reasons 
why they inhabit in the town of Smithfield without admit- 
tance of said town council;" some persons were ordered 
removed from the town. Whether the strict supervision 
exercised over new comers was stimulated by a fear of hav- 
ing them to support, or because of a regard for the morals 
of the town, certain it is that the diligence used to ascertain 
the fitness of the aspirant for a permanent residence was 
both active and effectual. In this regard there was in Smith- 
field, in those days, nothing known of the law's delay. The 
person cited, if recalcitrant was forthwith put out of the 
town by the Sergeant ; if he returned he was ordered to 
pay a fine within one hour, or be stripped naked " from the 
waist upward " and whipped. It is a very gratifying fact 
that the record shows that when one Phebe Thornton a tran- 
sient person, was ordered by the council to pay a fine evi- 
dently far beyond her means, on the instant, or be stripped 
and whipped, that good Quaker, Thomas Steere, so many 
years President of the council, was not present. The town 
stocks and the whipping post were located in his section of 
the town, but careful as the Friends were of their own and 
the town's money, there is the religious and record reason 
for believing that the wandering Phebe was not scourged in 
accordance with the vote or sentiment of the well-to do, and 
public spirited Thomas. 

At a special town meeting, held on the sixteenth of Sep- 
tember, 1774, Capt. Arnold Paine, and William Winsor, 
Esqs., were chosen a committee to repair to the town of 
Boston, there to inspect into the circumstances of the poor 
of said town, and make report on the 10th day of October 
next. Capt. William Potter, Peleg Arnold and Stephen 



32 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 

Whipple were appointed a committee to receive the direc- 
tions given by the inhabitants for the relief of the poor of 
Boston. 

At a town meeting held on the 10th of October, 1774, 
the committee aforenamed made a verbal report and the 
town "welcome for the above service, for which the town 
returns them thanks." u Whereupon it is Voted, that sub- 
scription papers be drawn up for the purpose of gaining 
support for the poor sufferers of Boston, and delivered into 
the hands of the committee already appointed for that pur- 
pose, and that William Potter, Peleg Arnold and Stephen 
Whipple do the service appointed gratis ; to which they in 
this meeting agreed in person ; and that the subscription 
papers with receipts be returned to the town clerk's office 
of this town, to the intent that full and ample satisfaction 
may be made in that behalf." 

The result of this action will be seen by a perusal of the 
following letter, directed to Daniel Mowry, Jr., Town Clerk : 

Boston, Nov. U, 1774. 
Gentlemen: 

By the hands of Capt. Stephen Whipple and Mr. William Potter, 
the Committee of Donations received your very acceptable present of 
one hundred and fifty sheep. The Committee, in behalf of the Town, 
return our grateful acknowledgments to our kind and generous bene- 
factors, the patriotic inhabitants of Smith-field and Johnston. Such 
bounties greatly refresh our spirits, and encourage us to persevere in 
the glorious cause of true, constitutional freedom and liberty. We 
consider the cause as common, and therefore a cause in the defence of 
which, all North America ought to be united ; and it affords us, as it 
must every true-hearted American, a peculiar pleasure, that such un- 
ion prevails at this day, as bodes well to the rights and liberties of 
North America, civil and religious. 

What judgment are we to form respecting those who would affect 
to be calm and unconcerned spectators, in this day of trouble and dis- 
tress. But what shall we think and say of those who are constantly 
endeavoring, in a private, and when they dare, more open manner, to 
carry into. execution a plan the most detestable, and calculated for the 



HISTORY OF THK TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 33 

destruction of everything accounted valuable and dear in t lie eves of 
Americans. Surely, then, Americans must, they will, exert them- 
selves to their utmost at such a day as this. 

The inhabitants of this town are called, in providence, l<> stand, as 
it were in the front of the battle. We have reason, in the first place, 
to be thankful to God, who hath thus far helped us, and nextly, to 
our generous and kind benefactors, by their affectionate letters, as 
well as their timely donations. May the Lord reward them. We 
greatly need wisdom, direction, prudence, zeal, patience and resolu- 
tion. Our Christian friends may, by their prayers to God, contribute 
much towards a happy issue of these severe trials, and those mercies 
which are the fruit of the prayers of faith will prove mercies indeed. 
Hut we have not time to enlarge. 

Inclosed is a printed half sheet respecting the conduct of the Com- 
mittee on the improvement of the charities of our friends, which we 
hope will be to their satisfaction. 

Gentlemen, your much obliged friends and fellow-countrymen. 

„ T ) Per order of the 

David Jeffries. \ ~ ... . j! 

) Committee oj Donation*. 

1775. At a town meeting held on the 20th day of Febru- 
ary, 1775, Stephen Arnold, Jr., Andrew Waterman, Thomas 
Aldrich, Elisha Mo wry, Jr., and Uriah Alverson were ap- 
pointed a committee of inspection, agreeable to the eleventh 
article of the Continental Congress, and Daniel Mowry, Jr., 
and Othniel Matthewson were appointed a committee to re- 
ceive the town's quota of tire-arms, according to act of gov- 
ernment, and deliver the same to the three present captains 
of the foot companies in this town according to the muster 
rolls in number. In June of the same year Stephen Whip- 
ple, Joseph Jencks, Daniel Angell, Arnold Paine, Peleg 
Arnold, Andrew Waterman, and Elisha Mowry, Jr., were 
chosen to collect one hundred fire-arms, to put them in 
proper repair for battle at the expense of the town, to be 
then lodged ; one-third part at the dwelling house of Capt. 
Joseph Jencks ; one-third part at Col. Elisha Mowry's, and the 
other third part at Peleg Arnold's ; to be and remain for the 
use of the town on any invasion that may happen ; and that 



.')4 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 

William Potter, Joseph Jeucks, and Sylvanus Sayles be a 
committee to prize said guns. Immediately thereafter, at 
an adjourned meeting, it was voted that all the fire arms 
within the train-band of the first company in the town, be 
collected at the dwelling house of Capt. Joseph Jeucks 
within the week ; those of the second and third companies 
to be also collected, u in order to collect one hundred of the 
best quality to be equipped for use immediately." 

The aforesaid arms not having been collected in accord- 
ance with the vote of the town, it was at an adjourned 
meeting, held on the first lawful day after the expiration of 
the time within which said arms should have been depos- 
ited as aforesaid, voted: "that the committees, or any of 
them are requested to take forthwith said number of guns 
from any of the inhabitants of the town. 11 

In February, 1775, Stephen Arnold, Jr., Andrew Water- 
man, Thomas Aldrich, Elisha Mo wry, Jr., and Uriah Alver- 
son were chosen a committee of inspection, agreeable to the 
eleventh article of the Continental Congress. And Daniel 
Mo wry, Jr., and Othniel Mathewson were appointed to re- 
ceive the quota of fire-arms, and deliver the same to the 
captains of the three foot companies. 

At a special town meeting, held in June, 1775, Stephen 
Whipple, Joseph Jenckes, Daniel Angell, Arnold Paine, 
Peleg Arnold, Jacob Comstock, Abraham Winsor, Andrew 
Waterman and Elisha Mo wry, Jr., were chosen a committee 
to collect one hundred fire-arms, and the same to put in 
proper repair for battle. One-third of these arms were to 
be lodged at the house of Capt. Joseph Jenckes, one-third 
at the house of Col. Elisha Mowry, and one-third at the 
house of Mr. Peleg Arnold. 

In December, the town council was directed to convene, 
and make a list of all the inhabitants obliged by law to 
equip themselves, and unable to purchase fire-arms and ap- 
purtenances. In February, 1776, nineteen new fire-arms 



HISTORY OF THE TOWN .OF SMITHFIELD. 3f> 

were ordered to be purchased. In June, Elisha Mo wry, Jr., 
was appointed to receive the salt appropriated by govern- 
ment for the use of the town. In September, Capt. Samuel 
Day, Capt. David Eddy, and Capt. James Smith were sever- 
ally directed to raise each, their due proportion of thirty - 
nine men to march to Newport; and forty-eight shillings 
bounty was offered to recruits with guns, and well accou- 
tred ; and thirty-six shillings to each recruit not equipped. 
At the August town meeting it was voted : 

li Whereas there is now a bill received by the General Assembly of 
this Colony in order to be passed into a law relative to the importation 
of negro and mulatto slaves, as also several other matters relating to 
negro and mulatto slaves; a copy thereof being present: therefore it 
is voted by this town meeting that the Representatives tor this town 
use their uttermost endeavors to pass said bill in to a law of this 
Colony." 

At the May session of the General Assembly, 177G, cer- 
tain towns were supplied with powder and lead ; and to 
Smithfield was apportioned 200 pounds of powder and 400 
pounds of lead. • 

At the June session a census of the population was or- 
dered, and Daniel Mo wry, Jr., was the committee for this 
town. All the salt in the Colony w r as directed to be divided 
among the several towns at the rate of six shillings per 
bushel, "for cash only," and Smithfield was allowed 150 
bushels. A new distribution of salt was ordered, Smithfield 
being allowed 400^ bushels. 

This year a hospital was provided " to introduce the small 
pox by inoculation." 

1776. In May, 1776, John Sayles, Esq., was Assistant, 
and Daniel Mowry, Jr., Esq., and Capt. Andrew Waterman 
were Deputies. The General Assembly repealed the " Act 
of Allegiance," preceding the repeal by this Preamble: 
" Whereas in all States existing by Compact, Protection 



36 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 

and Allegiance are reciprocal, the latter being due only in 
consequence of the former : And whereas GEORGE the 
Third, King of Great Britain, forgetting his Dignity, re- 
gardless of the Compact most solemnly entered into, ratified 
and confirmed, to the Inhabitants of this Colony, by His 
illustrious Ancestors, and till of late fully recognized by 
Him — and entirely departing from the Duties and Character 
of a good King, instead of protecting, is endeavoring to 
destroy the good People of this Colony, and of all the Uni- 
ted Colonies, by sending Fleets and Armies to America, to 
Confiscate our Property, and spread Fire, Sword and Deso- 
lation, throughout our Country, in order to compel us to 
submit to the most debasing and detestable Tyranny ; where- 
by we are obliged by Necessity, and it becomes our highest 
Duty, to use every Means, with which God and Nature have 
furnished us, in support of our invaluable Rights and Privi- 
leges ; to oppose that Power which is exerted only for our 
Destruction." 

Be it therefore enacted by this General Assembly, and by 
the Authority thereof it is enacted, that an Act intituled 
' An Act for the more effectual securing to His Majesty the 
Allegiance of his Subjects in this his Colony and Dominion 
of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations," be, and the 
same is hereby, repealed. The act then went on to provide 
for the necessary changes in the terms of the Commissions 
for offices, civil and military ; and that in all suits and 
processes in law, reference to the King should be omitted, 
and they should run in the name, and by the authority of 
" The Governor and Company of the English Colony of 
Rhode Island and Providence Plantations. 1 

Stephen Hopkins and William Ellery were appointed 
delegates to the Continental Congress. 

With that same caution which distinguished the early 
Rhode Islanders in delegating, or parting with authority, 
the delegates were instructed by the General Assembly, as 



HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 37 

to the extent of their powers, and as to the sentiments of 
the legislature. 

They were to consult with the delegates of, and from the 
other colonies, upon the most proper measures for promot- 
ing and confirming the strictest Union and Consideration 
between the said United Colonies, for exerting their whole 
strength and force to annoy the common enemy, and to se- 
cure to the said Colonies their rights and liberties, both civil 
and religions, ,, ,, „ „ taking the greatest care to secure to 
this Colony, in the strongest and most perfect manner, its 
present established form, and all the powers of government, 
so far as relates to its internal police and conduct of our 
own affairs, civil and religious. 

A committee, one of whom was Andrew Waterman, was 
appointed to procure, and send immediately to Newport, as 
many iron, or shod shovels, as could be got, and to procure 
to be made as soon as possible, fifty good spades. 

Elisha Mowry, Jr., Esq., was chosen Lieutenant Colonel of 
the Second Regiment of Militia, in the County of Provi- 
dence. 

The following were the officers of the three Simthfield 
Militia companies: 

FIRST COMPANY. 

( 'aptain — Thomas Jen ek es. 
Lieutenant — Samuel Day. 
Ensign — George Streeter. 

SECOND COMPANY. 

Captain— David Eddy. 
Lieutenant — Eb^nezer Trask. 
Ensign — Simeon Ballou. 

TttTRD COMPANY. 

Captain — Nehemiah Smith. 
Lieutenant — .lames Smith. 
Ensign — Jesse Smith. 



38 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 

The Smithfield and Cumberland Rangers were incorpo- 
rated as an Independent Company. The company having 
chosen, the General Assembly appointed the following offi- 
cers : 

Captain — George Peck. 
First Lieutenant — Nedibiah Wilkinson. 
Second Lieutenant — Edward Thompson. 
Ensign — Levi Brown. 

All male persons, inhabitants of the Colony were required 
to subscribe, if required, the following "Declaration or 
Test:" 

I the subscriber do solemnly and sincerely declare; That I believe 
the War, Resistance and Opposition in winch the United American 
Colonies are now engaged against the fleets and armies of Great 
Britain, is on the part of the said Colonies just and necessary: And 
that I will not, directly, nor indirectly, afford assistance of any sort 
or kind whatever to the said fleets and armies, during the continuance 
of the present war; but that I will heartily assist in the defence of the 
United Colonies. 

Provided: That in case any person shall produce a certificate from 
the Clerk of any Meeting of the Friends, that he is in Unity with 
that Society, or shall take the affirmation directed in an Act intituled 
"An Act for the Relief of Persons of tender Consciences, and for 
preventing their being burdened with military Duty,"' he shall be ex- 
cused from subscribing the said Declaration or Test. 

A Regiment of six hundred men was ordered to be 
raised ; composed of six men out of every hundred, of six- 
teen years of age, and upwards. John Sayles, Jr., was 
chosen Colonel. 

Daniel Mo wry, Jr., was appointed, he being then at New- 
port, attending the General Assembly, to go immediately to 
the County of Providence, and make diligent enquiry after 
the persons concerned in counterfeiting the Bills of Credit 
emitted by this Colony. 



HISTORY OF THK TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 39 

1777. Iii January, 1777, the Smithfield and Cumberland 
Rangers, were upon their own application, ordered upon 
duty for three months. One-half of each company at a time. 

Thomas Appleby was permitted to take the place of his 
father James Appleby, Jr., who had been drafted. 

David Wilkinson, Esq., was permitted to remove two bar- 
rels of rum from Smithfield to Providence. 

Gideon Comstock was one of the Council of War to act 
during the recess of the General Assembly. 

Gideon Comstock was appointed one of a committee to 
meet with any committee to be appointed by Massachusetts, 
to enquire into the grounds of the miscarriage of the late 
expedition against the enemy on Rhode Island. 

Smithfield was required to furnish sixty-four pairs of 
stockings. 

Daniel Mo wry, Jr., was allowed fourteen pounds, five 
shillings, lawful money, for three days provision of thirty 
men who marched from the town of Smithfield. 

Elisha Mowry appointed Lietlt. Colonel of 2d Regiment. 

The valuation of Smithfield was one hundred and eio-ht 
thousand, seven hundred and eighty-five pounds ; being the 
largest valuation of any country town save South Kingstown. 

Jonathan Arnold, Henry Ward and Daniel Mowry were 
appointed a committee to revise, alter and amend an act for 
the relief of tender consciences. 

April. Capt. Andrew Waterman was a committee to pro- 
cure blankets. 

May. Elisha Mowry was appointed Lieut. Colonel of the 
second regiment of Militia in Providence County. 

Five hundred blankets, two hundred and fifty barrels of 
flour and eighty hundred weight of iron were ordered to be 
procured, and the proportion of each assessed to Smithfield, 
was : Sixteen barrels of flour, thirty-two blankets, and five 
hundred weight of iron. 

Samuel Winsor was appointed to procure the blankets. 



40 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 

August, John Angell and Peleg Arnold were appointed 
recruiting officers. 

December. Smithfield was required to furnish one hun- 
dred and twenty-eight pairs of stockings. 

1778. John Sayles was empowered to draw three hun- 
dred dollars out of the General Treasury in order to supply 
the families of the officers and soldiers in the town of Smith- 
field with necessaries. 

Daniel Mo wry, Jr., was appointed to inspect all letters 
that shall be received or sent by the late Capt. of the Syren, 
and to stop all such as he shall think improper to be deliv- 
ered. 

A new Council of War was appointed, of which Gideon 
Comstock was a member. He was also one of a committee 
appointed to enquire into the matter of the defrauding of 
the State, by certain persons taking stock from the farm at 
Point Judith. 

Valentine Whitman was permitted to transport " by land ' 
to Boston, fifty or sixty hogsheads of tobacco, for the use of 
the United States. But he was directed to appear before 
the General Assembly, to answer such questions as may be 
asked him, iw respecting a quantity of cheese by him pur 
chased in this State." 

Peleg Arnold was one of a committee appointed by the 
General Assembly, to examine the clothing returned into 
the agent — clothiers store, for the use of the troops. 

For the more equal representation of the State in the 
Council of War, a new Council was appointed by the Gen- 
eral Assembly, of which Gideon Comstock and John Sayles 
were members. 

John Sayles was allowed by the Council of War the sum 
of three hundred pounds lawful money in order to supply 
the families in the town of Smithfield. of soldiers in the 
Continental service. 



HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 41 

Congress having recommended to the legislatures of the 
several States, to cause subscriptions to be opened for loans 
to the Continental service, the General Assembly appointed 
persons in the several sections of the State for that purpose ; 
one of said persons being John Sayles. 

The officers of the First Company of Militia were: 

Captain — Samuel I )ay. 
Lieutenant — Richard Sayles. 
Ensign — William Gully. 

SECOND COMPANY. 

J 

Captain — Ebenezer Trask. 
Lieu tenant — Simeon Ballon. 
Ensign — David Aldrich. 

THTRD COMPANY. 

Captain — Joseph Sprague. 

Fourth Lieutenant — Daniel Mowry. 

Ensign — lien jam in Sheldon. 

John Sayles was appointed by the General Assembly to 
pay the bounties of soldiers enlisted in Smithfield, and this 
town was required to furnish fifty-one men. 

Requisition was made upon Smithfield for 192 pair woolen 
stockings. 

May. John Sayles and Gideon Comstock were appointed 
members of the Council of War. 

October. William Aldrich was permitted, under the di- 
rection of General Sullivan, to go to England with Jemima 
Wilkinson. 

A lottery to raise three hundred pounds, lawful money, 
was authorized, to repair the bridge over Pawtucket river 
near Unity Furnace, so called ; now Manville. 

The enlisting of men continued in 1778; and the town 
borrowed one thousand, seven hundred and eighty-five 



42 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 

pounds for the purpose of paying bounties. The bounty 
had now been raised to thirty-five pounds, lawful money, in 
addition to the State's bounty, which was twenty pounds, 
with uniform. The drafted men who were to serve with 
Gen. Sullivan on the island of Rhode Island, were to be 
paid eighteen shillings per day. At this time it cost the 
town two pounds to enlist a man. The General Assembly 
having assessed the town in the number of one hundred and 
ninety-two pairs of woolen stockings, at the price of one 
pound and four shillings per pair ; and the town being un- 
able to procure them at that price, it was voted to collect 
them at the rate of forty shillings per pair, the town paying 
the difference. 

At a special town meeting held on the second day <>i 
April, 1779, the following resolution was passed: 

" Whereas upon the inspection of the prox proposed to be exhibited 
unto the several towns for electing General Officers, and Delegates to 
Congress for the year ensuing, give a general dissatisfaction to the 
people in this town; Whereupon it is unanimously voted, that Capt. 
Andrew Waterman, be and hereby is appointed a committee-man to 
meet such committee-men as may be appointed by our neighboring 
towns in this State, at East Greenwich, on the sixteenth day of this 
instant April, there in conjunction, as a committee, to select the besl 
set of men they can engage for, to supply our righteous representation 
both in General Assembly, and General Congress, most for the utility 
of the State in particular, and the United States in general." 

In 1779, Capt. Andrew Waterman was chosen to open 
a subscription to collect money to supply the town officer 
with the town's quota of money called for by Congress. 
Caleb Aldrich was sent to the Convention at East Green- 
wich, held for the purpose of further stipulating prices. In 
1780, thirty-five more men were directed to be enlisted, and 
Col. John Sayles, Capt. William Waterman, Capt, Stephen 
Whipple and Capt. Ilezekiah Sprague, were appointed a 
committee to hire 1750 silver dollars upon their personal 



HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 4o 

security, and a tax of six hundred pounds was levied "in 
silver or gold," to be paid within four months. Caleb Al 
drich, Esq., and Capt. Arnold Paine were chosen a commit- 
tee to purchase the town's proportion of grain and beef, for 
the supply of the Commissary General. Three shillings in 
silver money was now paid by the town for each pair of 
woolen stockings, over and above what the State allowed, 
and thirty-five pairs were ordered bought. At this time 
began the enlistments for three years, or during the war, as 
also the collection of blankets for the soldiers. 

The General Assembly having assessed the town for forty- 
two cwt. of beef, the town proposed to hire eighty-four 
pounds in hard money, to pay in lieu thereof: and the town 
voted to pay Stephen Whipple seventy-two old Continental 
Dollars in lieu of one silver dollar, in payment of this ac- 
count. Eighty- three bushels of corn for the army, was- 
ordered to be bought. In August, 1781, the town pro- 
vided for twenty seven bushels of corn, and 8026 lbs. beef 
for the months of October and November succeeding. 

1779. February. The Deputy Governor, Gideon Corn- 
stock, Daniel Mowry and Rowse J. Helme were appointed a 
committee to take evidence concerning the illicit commerce 
carried on from the main to Block Island. 

The committee was continued with power to apprehend 
and commit such persons as they thought proper. Daniel 
Mowry was appointed one of a committee to take an esti- 
mate of the ratable property in the State. 

May. John Augell was appointed Lieut, Colonel of the 
second regiment of militia in the county of Providence. 

Of the three militia companies in Smithiield, Eber Angell, 
Ebenezer Trask and Daniel Mowry, 1th, were Captains. Job 
Mowry was Captain of the Alarm Company. 

October. Gideon Comstock, chosen a member of the 
Council of War. 



44 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 

Capt. Andrew Waterman, Jonathan Comstock, Esq., and 
Capt. William Potter were chosen delegates to meet dele- 
gates from the other towns in this State, to restore the Con- 
tinental currency. Major Edward Thompson was afterwards 
put in place of Jonathan Comstock. 

Samuel Winsor was allowed by the Council of War, sev- 
enteen pounds, ten shillings, ten pence, for articles supplied 
the family of Jonathan Height, belonging to the town of 
Smith field. 

The town council of Smithfield was allowed, by the Coun- 
cil of War, ninety dollars, for Thomas Herendeen, the same 
amount to Benjamin Smith, and to Stephen Gully. Being 
eighty-one pounds in lawful money. 

Daniel M'owry was one of a committee appointed by the 
General Assembly, to prepare a bill in amendment to the 
act for the better supply of the army. iVlso to take an esti- 
mate of the ratable property in this State ; and to assess tax. 

At a town meeting held in Smithfield on the 20th of Au- 
gust, 1779, called by Warrant, it was Voted: That we give 
our instruction to our Deputies to use their influence at tin.' 
General Assembly, that this State's proportion of the twenty 
millions of dollars be raised. 

That this town approves of the proceedings of the Con- 
vention met at East Greenwich, on the 10th of August, 
1779, on stipulating prices of necessaries of life, &c. 

That Caleb Aldrich, Esq., Col. William Winsor and Capt. 
Stephen Whipple, be a committee to stipulate prices together 
with other committees in this county at time and place here- 
after stipulated by the committee of Providence. 

1780. March. John Sayles, Chairman, and others made 
report relative to the ways and means for procuring supplies 
for the Continental Army. Sylvanus Sayles, Chairman, and 
others were empowered to procure a sufficient quantity of 
linen to be manufactured to make ninety pairs of breeches 



HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 4 5 

for the officers in the Continental Army, considered to be 
the quota of this State. 

June. William Aldrich was appointed Major of the 
second regiment of militia, in the County of Providence. 

Peleg Arnold. Lieutenant Colonel Commandant, of the 
second Battalion, in the County of Providence. 

Smithfield required to furnish thirty -five men for the Con- 
tinental Battalions. 

Uriah Alverson to receive the money to pay bounties. 

Elisha Mo wry, .Jr., appointed to procure blankets in 
Smithfield. 

July. The General Assembly directed that the Continen- 
tal Army be supplied, in each month of July, August, Sep- 
tember and October, with 71,675 pounds of beef, and 
2,285 bushels of corn, rye, oats or barley; and the monthly 
quota of Smithfield was 5,000 pounds of beef, and 150 
bushels of grain. 

The ratable polls in town, were 425 ; the amount of 
money and trading stock, 2,143 pounds; ounces of plate, 
1,157; horses, 346 ; oxen, 413; horned cattle, 2,370 ; sheep 
and goats, 3,449 ; amount of the ratable value, 194,864 
pounds. In November, however, a revision was made of 
this estimate, and Smithfield was rated for 212,509.01 pounds; 
and again at the same session the rate was finally fixed at 
207,809.01 pounds. 

There was a deficiency of 163 men in the quotas ordered 
to be raised in June, but Smithfield had much more nearly 
raised her proportion than had some of the towns in the south- 
ern part of the State. Six hundred and thirty more men were 
ordered to be raised, and Smithfield was required to furnish 
thirty-five. Peleg Arnold, John Sayles, John Angell, An- 
drew Waterman, Stephen Whipple, Ebenezer Trask and 
Edward Thompson were appointed recruiting officers. 

Rufus Streeter was appointed Ensign of the first company 
in the militia in the town of Smithfield. The following offi- 



4(i HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 

cers having been chosen by the company, were appointed 
by the Council of War, for the Smithfield and Cumberland 
Rangers, to wit : 

Captain — Edward Thompson. 
First Lieutenant — Benjamin Walcot. 
Second Lieutenant — William Bowen. 
Ensign — Joshua Jenckes. 

George Streeter was appointed Lieutenant in the senior 
class in Smithfield ; and Abraham Winsor, Ensign. 

This town was assessed to furnish, as its quota for one 
month live thousand pounds of beef, and one hundred and 
fifty bushels of grain, being a larger amount of beef than 
that assessed upon any town save South Kingstown. Elisha 
Mowry, Jr., was appointed to assist in collecting the same 
in this town. 

In October, requisition was made upon Smithfield for 
twelve blankets, and thirty-five pairs of stockings, being 
more than was required of Newport, and nearly the same 
quantity as was asked of Providence. The blankets were 
to cost not over eighty pounds lawful money, each, for the 
best; and the best quality of stockings not over twelve 
pounds per pair. If they could not be purchased, the col 
lectors were empowered to take them by distraint. . 

Peleg Arnold was chosen Lieutenant-Colonel, command- 
ant of the second Battalion, in the County of Providence. 

Peleg Arnold, John Sayles, John Angell, Andrew Water- 
man, Stephen Whipple, Ebenezer Trask and Edward Thomp- 
son were a committee to receive recruits ; and Smithfield 
was required to furnish thirty-five men. 

Daniel Mowry was elected Delegate to Congress. 

November. John Jenckes was appointed one of a com 
mittee " to inspect into the public letters and papers laid 
before this Assembly. 1 ' 



HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 47 

The number of acres in town was estimated to be 35,236; 
the value per acre five pounds, ten shillings; value of real 
estate, 193,798 pounds; total value, 212,509 pounds. 

The valuation was slightly reduced upon revisal. 

One hundred and twenty pounds found due to Elisha 
Mowry for blankets bought. 

1781. February. Twelve hundred men were ordered 
into service for one month. Daniel Mowry, 4th., Captain in 
the Battalion of Providence and Kent Counties. 

William Waterman, appointed to purchase corn for the 
arni} r , for the town of Smithfield. 

May. Daniel Mowry, 4th, Major of second regiment of 
militia in the County of Providence. 

Job Mowry, Captain in the Second Battalion. 

Benjamin Ballon, Ebenezer Trask and John Carpenter, 
Captains. 

July. William Waterman, for Smithfield, was directed to 
furnish twenty-seven bushels of grain for the army. 

August. The same number of bushels were directed to 
be furnished for September, October and November. 

A requisition was made upon Smithfield for twenty- seven 
bushels of corn or rye. Providence was required to furnish 
twenty-nine bushels, and South Kingstown, forty. 

In 1781, Daniel Mowry, 4th, Esq., was Major of the sec- 
ond regiment of militia in the County of Providence. 

In 1782, the ratable value of Smithfield was put at two 
hundred thousand pounds. 

The population of the town was 2,217. 

1783. At a town meeting held June 2, 1783, it was 

voted : 

" We the inhabitants of the town of Smithfield. in town meeting 
assembled, being impressed with a sense of the iniquity and inhu- 
manity of the practice of enslaving the human species, and being 



48 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 

fully convinced of this standing truth that all men arc born to an 
equal right of liberty; and while we are contending for the inestima- 
ble privilege ourselves, to be acting the tyrant over, and bringing 
others into abject slavery is as great an inconsistency as a rational 
being can be guilty of, and sufficiently evinces that such people arc 
only craving it for themselves for their own enjoyment without pos- 
sessing the spirit of liberty in their own minds: Therefore we instruct 
and direct you our Kepresentatives to use your endeavors and influence 
in the General Assembly, to procure a law made and passed that no 
ship or vessel shall be fitted out from any part of this State to Africa, 
unless the Master or Captain thereof shall give bonds in such a sum. 
and be under such lawfull restrictions, regulations and obligations as 
the legislative body shall seem suitable, and deem effective to debar 
him from purchasing or bringing away from the country the. inhabi- 
tants, and making slaves of them, or selling them for slaves in any of 
the West India Islands or elsewhere. 1 ' 

1784. Daniel Mo wry, Jr., was chosen delegate, and Gid- 
eon Comstock and John Sayles, a committee to consider and 
instruct said delegate in relation to the inequality of the State 
representation in the General Assembly, in view of a con- 
vention. 

178(i. We the Freemen of the Town of Smithfield, assem- 
bled in legal town meeting to make choice of Deputies to represent us 
in the General Assembly at next May session, and to put in our proxy 
votes for general officers, being seriously and weightily concerned for 
the good people of this State, and for those of this town in particular, 
of which we have complete knowledge, of the difficulties and oppres- 
sions they live under. 

For that there hath been several heavy and unjust taxes brought on, 
assessed and collected by order of the legislators of this State, and the 
money appropriated to them where it was not one-half due. It hath 
been raised, as it is said, to pay the interest of the money put into the 
Loan Office, and to those that are the holders of other public securities, 
when the money loaned did not pass, and was not worth one-quarter, 
and some not more than twenty for one in silver money. And many 
of the public securities originated from as small a value. The certifi- 
cates were given for paper money, which was then called lawful 
money, and have not been Liquidated to the just value. So there 
have been many examples where one year's interest hath been paid in 



HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 49 

silver, that was worth more than the principal was, when loaned. 
And at this time there is another tax of twenty thousand pounds 
ordered and assessed on this little and oppressed State and ordered to 
be appropriated in an unjust manner as the former, which ought never 
to be collected or paid. And to our great surprise and astonishment, 
the legislators of this State, in one of their late sessions, complied wit li 
the requisition of Congress, wherein was contained the paying of the 
interest of the loaned money on the principal sum loaned, though 
they acknowledge it is subject to a liquidation. 

And also did pass an act called an act giving and granting to the 
United States in Congress assembled, an impost of five per cent, on 
all foreign goods imported into this State, for the space of twenty-five 
years, to be collected by a Congress officer who is demeanable to none 
living but Congress, and it is said to be applied to pay the interest and 
principal of any of the expenses incurred by the late war. And as 
there is none to call Congress to account for the expenditures, on 
earth, it is in their hands, at their uncontrolled will. If the legisla- 
ture think it best to raise money by impost, we have not a word to 
say against it. And at the same time we are sensible it is raised out 
of the consumer of the goods. But we are of opinion, on principles 
well founded, that it ought to be collected by officers of the State, and 
deposited in the general treasury and disposed of by the General As- 
sembly. If the cause of the impost being granted at this time and 
after this manner, may appear a mystery, but about three years ago 
Congress insisted earnestly for the same measures and employed sev- 
eral gentlemen, one of which was Mr. Paine, a great writer in favor 
of liberty, to attend our Assembly, to enforce same. But all to no 
purpose, for the Assembly, sincerely and manfully opposed it, as being 
impolitic, unconstitutional and unjust, and giving up the rights and 
interests of the State, which was generally acknowledged, by some of 
the other States to be to their great honor, and also to the honor of 
the State they represented, and had a good effect in the other States 
that had in some degree complied with the measure, who soon re- 
pealed the same. And what the cause is now, we do not pretend to 
affirm; but we think it favors the story of paying the interest and 
principal of the loaned money agreeable to the face of the certificates 
without liquidation. These proceedings we think to be grievances of 
a high nature, and not only think them so, but we feel them so, and 
that the same in truth and good con'science ought to be redressed, and 
in order thereto, we in the early part of this meeting, before our 
representatives are elected, do give the following instructions to those 



50 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 

that may be chosen, that they may know the sense of this town at 
their acceptance of that important trust. 

1st. Whereupon, our advice and instructions to you, gentlemen, 
are, that you attend the General Assembly at their several sittings for 
May session; that you use your utmost endeavors and influence to 
stop and hinder any more money being paid in this State, either by 
taxes, impost, or any other way, for interest or principal on Loan 
Office certificates, or any public securities, subject to a liquidation, 
till the just value they originated from is known and the same be re- 
duced thereto; and where the full value is paid on any of the securi- 
ties, that it be so declared and the same cancelled; and if more be 
paid on any, than what is right and equitable, that strict justice may 
be done. 

'^d. That you use your utmost endeavors and exert yourselves in 
debates and in voting, to procure that part of an act, called "An Act 
granting an impost of live percent, to the United States in Congress 
assembled, on all foreign goods imported into this State," to be re- 
pealed, so far as relates to Congress, or to the officer that collects the 
same being a Congress officer or demeanable to Congress; and that 
the General Assembly fill up and finish that part of the act which 
they left Congress to do. And that the collector or collectors be 
accountable to the General Treasurer, and the money arising on the 
impost be deposited in the general treasury and disposed by the 
General Assembly. 

3d. That you move it in the General Assembly that proper means 
be used and applications made that the accounts with the United 
States be settled, and that this State may know what we have to pay 
and what we pay it for, and that we pay it our own way. And that 
you do not order any money to be paid for the United States' debts 
till this be done, for it is of the uttermost bad consequence to lie, as 
it doth, and may save the trouble of many requisitions being sent. 

4th. That you move once more, that a more equal representation 
be had in this State, and if not obtained, we think we ought to be 
and are exonerated from paying any more taxes till done. 

In town meeting at Smithfield, April 19th, 1780. The within 
requisitions were read and debated in town meeting, and voted to be 
given as instructions to the representatives of this town in General 
Assembly, at the May session next. 

Witness, Daniel Mowry, Town Clerk. 



HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 5 1 

At a special town meeting held October 21, 1786, it was 
voted that the town does not approve of an act forwarded 
from the General Assembly, intended to stimulate and give 
efficacy to the paper bills emitted by this State; and George 
Comstock, Daniel Mowry, Jr., Esq., Thomas Lapham, Gideon 
Comstock, Esq., and Elisha Bartlett were appointed a com- 
mittee to draft instructions for the Representatives in that 
behalf. In December of this year a committee was chosen 
to inspect into the state and circumstances of the poor. 
April, 1787, the Deputies were instructed to endeavor to 
procure the passage of a law giving the towns a more equal 
representation in the General Assembly. In March, 1788, 
the town voted 159 to 2 against the proposed Constitution; 
and also in favor of the repeal of the paper money tender 
act. In 1798 the town for the first time provided for the 
keeping of the poor, by vendue ; they being put out for the 
year to the lowest bidder. If this seems, in this day a harsh 
and unfeeling mode of caring for the unfortunate, a glance 
at the conditions of the contract and the safeguards thrown 
around the welfare of the poor, will relieve the natural but 
unjust suspicion v The poor were to be clothed, fed, lodged, 
nursed in sickness and provided " with all such necessaries 
fitting for them in their degree." Two or more of the over- 
seers of the poor were to visit them as often as once in two 
months, to see if they were decently kept and provided for; 
and if complaint be made, oftener, if they think necessary. 
At the August meeting, 1799, upon consideration of an act 
passed by the General Assembly to establish free schools, it 
was thought that the terms of said act were more peculiarly 
adapted to the interests of the sea-port and compact towns 
than to those of the country towns, and Philip Mowry, Wil- 
liam Buffum, Joel Aldrich, Elisha Olney, Duty Winsor, Ed- 
ward Medbury and john Jenckes, 3d, were appointed a 
committee "to examine every paragraph and article therein, 
and upon mature investigation to report their opinion and 



52 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 

judgment in relation thereto ; whether for the best to adopt 
or reject." 

At the September meeting, the said committee reported 
in favor of the adoption of said school act, and the town ac- 
cepted said report, and instructed the Representatives to 
endeavor to have said act passed into a law. In June, 1800,' 
William BufFum, Joel Aldrich, Ezekiel Comstock, Thomas 
Mann, Elisha Olney, Robert Harris, Thomas Appleby, Jona- 
than Harris and Joseph Farnum were chosen a committee 
"in order to provide ways and means to organize and pre- 
scribe the best plan to put in motion the Free School Act ; 
and proportion off, how many schools are necessary, and 
where to be kept for the convenience of the town of Smith- 
field who have engaged to set and consult the premises 

without cost to the town." At the August town meeting, 
the said committee reported that they had agreed upon 
twenty-six as the number of schools ; a tax of one thousand 
dollars was voted to be levied for the support thereof. 

April, 1801, the price of a day's work on the highway was 
raised to seventy-five cents, fifty per cent, advance. At this 
time a special town meeting could be called .upon request of 
seven freemen, and as the General Assembly had passed an 
act requiring in such cases formal notice to the freemen, the 
town, having under said law the right to prescribe for itself, 
the mode of calling such special meetings, Voted, that they 
should be called by posting notices in five public places, and 
designated such places as follows : at Peleg Arnold's ; at 
Sylvanus Bucklin's ; at Scott Pond Halls ; at Robert Harris's ; 
and upon the great road at Tucker and Sevours. All these 
designated places were then public houses. April, 1805, the 
overseers of the poor were directed to bind out to proper per- 
sons the children, from the age of four years and upwards, 
being poor of the town. At the annual town meeting in 
June, 1806, the Representatives to the General Assembly 
were instructed to use their endeavors, at the next and all 



HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFTELD. 53 

future Assemblys to cause resolutions to be passed, recom- 
mending the people to give their suffrages either in favor of, 
or against a convention of delegates, for the purpose of form- 
ing a Constitution for this State. 

At a Convention of members from all the towns in the 
County of Providence, met at Smithfield, on the 13 day of 
September, ^781 ; Gideon Comstock Esq., was chosen chair- 
man, and John Harris Esq., clerk. Voted : That a commit- 
tee be appointed to draught some recommendations, to lay 
before the several towns for their approbation, and that they 
instruct their Deputies accordingly. Voted: That Benoni 
Williams, Sylvanus Sayles, Hon. William West, Rev. Phile- 
mon Hines, Joab Voung, Roger Sheldon, Nehemiah Atwood, 
Stephen Olney and Jonathan Hopkins be the committee. 
The report of the committee recited, that : u Whereas it ap- 
pears that the distress of the good people of this State is 
truly alarming, on account of the unstable state of the paper 
currency, the instability of which arises from the opposition 
of the mercantile interest within this State : And whereas it 
is evident that great profit ariseth from importation; and 
also that for our produce we can import silver or gold, which 
we must have to discharge our foreign debt and foreign ex- 
penses, which we have been prevented doing by the exporta- 
tion of cash ; and also considering it to be good policy for 
any State to make use of every advantage in their power to 
extricate themselves from every embarrassment under which 
they may labor ; and that it is their duty to support their 
inhabitants with the conveniences of life as far as possible : 
We the committee recommend to the inhabitants of this State 
that they call town meetings, and instruct their Deputies to 
use their influence at the next General Assembly to form a 
State-Trade ; and that they provide vessels for that purpose ; 
and that the taxes that are assessed, by order of Assembly, 
which is not otherwise appropriated, to be appropriated for 
the purposes aforesaid, and the proceeds be appropriated 



54 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 

to supply the said inhabitants, and to discharge our foreign 
debt and expenses as aforesaid ; which business shall be 
transacted under the General Assembly, or those that they 
shall appoint for that purpose. Also that they instruct their 
Deputies to use their utmost efforts to obtain a repeal of that 
statute which introduces the law making notes of hand nego- 
tiable in this State ; and that the statute of limitations be 
shortened to two years from the rising of the said Assembly. 
And also that the General Treasurer be directed to issue no 
more interest certificates receivable by the Collectors of 
Impost, but that the importers pay the Collectors in money. 
And also that an excise on the superfluities and luxuries of 
life, be properly established, and punctually executed. Also 
we recommend to the inhabitants of this State that they keep 
on hand all those articles which are most suitable for ex- 
portation, until a full determination can be had on the afore- 
said recommendation by the General Assembly ; and that 
the collection of taxes for the purposes aforesaid be in the 
following manner, viz: in Money, Produce, Lumber, or 
Labor, at stipulated prices, for carrying the aforesaid State- 
Trade into effect." 

A call was made in form upon the Governor, to call the 
General Assembly together u as soon as can be convenient," 

1786. February. A lottery was granted to raise four 
hundred and fifty dollars for the repair of the bridge near 
Unity Furnace, Jotham Carpenter Esq., of Cumberland, and 
Capt. David Sayles, of Smithfield, managers. 

1787. During the session of the Continental Congress, in 
this year, at New York, there was published in the Daily 
Advertiser, of that city, an article headed: "Quintessence 
of villany ; or, proceedings of the Legislature of the State 
of Rhode Island at the late session." Which article was 
construed to be a " daring insult to a sovereign State, by 
our Representatives, James M. Varnum and Peleg Arnold." 



HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 55 

A letter was addressed by them to the Governor of the 
State of New York, requesting him to cause the publisher 
of said paper to be apprehended for publishing said libel. 
The Legislature of New York ordered the prosecution of 
the printer, if our delegates should request; but they 
deemed their views to have been fully met, and declined to 
have the prosecution entered upon. Their point was to sus- 
tain the honor of the State. 

1788. At the March session of the General Assembly, a 
motion was made in the House of Representatives for a Con- 
vention to act upon the adoption of the Constitution framed 
at Philadelphia as and for the Constitution of the United 
States. It was negatived by twenty-seven majority, as the 
same motion had been negatived by a majority of thirty at 
a previous session. In June, nine States had adopted the 
Constitution, and it became apparent that it would event- 
ually receive the assent of all the States. The citizens of 
Providence who were largely in favor of the new national 
government, at a public meeting resolved to celebrate u the 
adoption of the Federal Constitution by nine States," and 
the anniversary of American Independence, on the Fourth 
of July. The celebration " was to be on the plain to the 
northward of the bay or cove." In the newspapers was in- 
serted a general invitation to the town and country to 
assemble on this occasion, and special invitations were 
issued to the State officials. u The public at large," says 
Judge West, u seeing preparations for so public a celebra- 
tion of the adoption of the same Constitution, which had 
already received the disapprobation and disgust of at least 
four-fifths of the individual inhabitants of this State, as well 
as of the legislative authority of the State, did thereupon 
at once perceive, that such entertainment in such public 
manner, was intended as a public insult upon the legisla- 
tive authority of the State as well as the body of the peo- 



56 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 

pie at large." The celebration of Independence as a part 
of said festival was considered to be a mockery, a delusion 
and a snare to the country people. Whereupon it was de- 
termined to prevent the celebration of the intended feast 
for which great preparation was making, and at which 
there was to be an ox roasted whole. During the night of 
the third of July about one thousand men from all the 
surrounding country assembled under arms, and there was 
every prospect of the attendance of two or three times that 
number before noon on the Fourth. About eleven o'clock 
of the night of the third, the town sent a committee to en- 
quire what the country demanded, whereupon they were 
informed, that the country had no objection to the celebra- 
tion of any occasion, except that of the new Constitution, 
or its adoption by any of the States, on which it was agreed 
that a committee of each party should meet in the morning 
with an endeavor to accommodate matters to the satisfac- 
tion of the country. 

The committee from the town consisted of Jabez Bowen, 
David Howell, Welcome Arnold, John I. Clark, Benjamin 
Bourne, Esqs., Col. Zephaniah Andrews, and Mr. John 
Mason. The committee of the country consisted of William 
West, Esq., Capt. Andrew Waterman, Abraham Mathewson, 
John Westcott, and Peleg Fisk, Esqs., Col. John Sayles and 
Capt. James Aldrich. 

After a conference of about an hour, it was agreed on the 
part of the town, that they would not celebrate the day on 
account of the adoption of the Constitution by nine States, or 
on account of said Constitution, in any respect whatever ; 
that no salutes should be fired or toasts drank in honor of 
said Constitution, or in honor of any State or States which 
have adopted said Constitution, fhat they would only honor 
the day by a discharge of thirteen cannon and thirteen only, 
that the celebration of the day should be in honor of the 
independence of America, and that only, and that they would 



HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 57 

not publish or cause to be published any account contrary 
to said agreement. One member from each committee went 
to the troops under arms and declared to them the particu- 
lars of the aforesaid agreement ; whereupon they retired in 
pursuance of said agreement. 

1790. January. The General Treasurer laid before the 
Assembly the deficiency of the several towns in the payment 
of the tax assessed at the June session, 1788, and it appeared 
that the sums unpaid varied from over one thousand pounds, 
to one pound. Smithfield was deficient only two pounds 
eight shillings and seven pence. 

At a Convention of Delegates, begun and holden at South 
Kingstown, in the County of Washington, on the first Monday 
in March, 1790, pursuant to an act of the General Assembly, 
passed at their session in January, 1790, for the purpose of 
investigating and deciding on the new Constitution, proposed 
for the United States: John Sayles, Esq., and Andrew 
Waterman, Esq., were delegates from Smithfield. Mr. 
Waterman was one of the committee to prepare Rules and 
Orders for the government of the Convention. Col. Sayles 
moved that a committee be appointed to form a bill of 
rights and prepare amendments to the proposed Constitu- 
tion, formed by the Convention at Philadelphia, on the 17th 
day of September, 1787, for the government of the United 
States, and report to the Convention, anci that the Conven- 
tion do adjourn to a future day. Seconded by Andrew 
Waterman. Laid upon the table. Upon motion afterwards 
made a committee was appointed, consisting of two from 
each county, to draft amendments to be proposed to the 
new Federal Constitution. The members for the county of 
Providence, were, Stephen Steere, Esq., and John Sayles, 
Esq. On motion of Andrew Waterman the Convention ad- 
journed to the fourth Monday in May, at Newport. Upon 
the question of adopting " the federal government," the vote 



58 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 

was thirty-four in the affirmative, and thirty two in the neg- 
ative, the delegates from Smithfield voting in the negative. 

An Act to incorporate certain persons by the name of the 
" Providence Society for promoting the abolition of Slavery, 
for the relief of persons unlawfully held in bondage, and for 
improving the condition of the African race,' 1 was passed by 
the General Assembly. Among the persons named in the 
act, were the following, of Smithfield : Arnold Paine, John 
Sayles, and Peleg Arnold. Among the corporators, was 
Jonathan Edwards, of Connecticut. 

1791. The u Smithfield Grenadiers 1 ' chartered, compris- 
ing the following persons : Samuel McClellan, John Jenckes, - 
Jr., William Harris, William Arnold, Jr., Richard Angel, 
John Angel, Jr., Isaac Angel, Thomas Angel, Charles Angel, 
Jr., Benjamin Angell, John Arnold, Thomas Arnold, William 
Aldrich, Jr., Daniel Arnold, Jr., Smith Arnold, Job Angel, 
Jr., James Bryant, William Bryant, Stephen Bray ton, Jr., 
William Ballon, Nicholas Brock, William Dexter, James 
Drake, Jacob File, William Gray, Benjamin Harris, Uriah 
Harris, Job Harris, Nicholas Jenckes, George Jenckes, Da- 
vid Jenckes, Daniel Jenckes, Benjamin Jenckes,~ William 
Legg, Jonathan Lapham, Ahab Mowry, Nathaniel Mowry, 
Daniel Olney, Zelotus Olney, Loammi Tucker, Joseph 
Tucker, Henry Sprague, Joseph Sprague, Jr., Simeon 
Wilkinson, John Wilkinson, Jr., Joseph Wilkinson, Arnold 
Whipple, Jeremiah Whipple, John White, Jesse Whipple, 
Nathan Young, Samuel Thayer and Samuel Mann. 

The officers were : 

Captain — Samuel McClellan. 
First Lieutenant — Zenas Winsor. 
Second Lieutenant — John Jenckes, Jr. 
Ensign — William Harris. 

June. A tax of six thousand pounds, lawful money, was 



HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 59 

assessed. Smithneld to pay three hundred and eighty-six 
pounds. 

1792. At the February session the General Assembly 
enacted: Whereas the preservation of this State, as well as 
of other States, depends, under the protection of God, upon 
the military skill and discipline of the inhabitants ; and 
whereas a number of the inhabitants of the town of Smith- 
field, to wit : Zenas Winsor, Joab Mathewson, Peleg Peck, 
Job Aldrich, Jr., Olney Latham, Daniel Tinkom, William 
Newell, Elisha Latham, Ichabod Potter, Constant Luther, 
William Mofuatt, John Russell, Jeremiah Winsor, Jr., Wil- 
liam Potter, Jr., William Potter, 3d, Christopher Wilkinson, 
Samuel Weston, Elijah Day, John Crosby, Abraham Math- 
ewson, Jr., Josiah Deane, Benajah Dyse, Oliver Jenckes., 
Stephen Sprague, Charles Salisbury, Edward Pike, William 
Hicks, Amos Eddy, John Slocum, Asher Saunders, George 
Smith, Joseph Mathewson, Thomas Dyer, James Sweet, 
Nathaniel Thatcher, Hendrick Smith, Elisha Evans, Emor 
Olney, Philip Keach, Joseph Carpenter, Solomon Paine, 
Oliver Saunders, Daniel Winsor, Pardon Smith, Andrew 
Waterman, Jr., Joseph Mitchell, Noah Bartlett, Jr., Juni 
Smith, David Comstock, Christopher Smith, Gardner Al- 
drich, Simeon Potter, Barlow Aldrich, William Shumway, 
Benjamin Waterman, John Appleby, David Tucker, James 
Brown, George Aldrich, Nathaniel Mowry, Jr., Daniel Al- 
drich, Daniel Tucker, Joseph Aldrich, Thomas Steere, Jabez 
Mowry, Caleb Shrieve, Nathaniel Mowry, 3d, Samuel Mow- 
ry, Stephen Appleby, and James Appleby, of Smithneld, in 
the County of Providence, have offered to form a company 
by the name of the Federal Protectors : Wherefore, this 
General Assembly, in order to give due encouragement to 
so laudable a design, have ordained, constituted and granted 
* * * that said petitioners be an independent company. 

The officers were : 



60 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 

Captain — Zonas Winsor. 
First Lieutenant — Joab Mathewson. 
Second Lieutenant — Peleg Peek. 
Ensign — Job Aldrich., Jr. 

February. Daniel Mowry was appointed one of the com- 
missioners upon the boundary line between this State and 
Massachusetts. i 

October. John Sayles appointed to collect, in the County 
of Providence, the money due upon the bonds taken for the 
interest of the bills of credit emitted May, 178G. 

Caleb Aldrich appointed one of a committee to report 
upon the removal of certain obstructions to the passage of 
fish up Pawtucket river. 

At the February session of the General Assembly, 1797, 
Joshua Jenckes, Joseph Wilkinson, Simeon Wilkinson, Na- 
than Dexter, Christopher Dexter, Ahab Mowry, Benjamin 
Ballon, Jr., Jesse Mowry, Charles Wright, Joseph Hendrick, 
Winsor Aldrich, Rufus Streeter, Jeremiah Newman, Samuel 
Clarke, Nathaniel Mowry, William Mowry, Jesse Whipple, 
Nahum Aldrich, George Harris, Simon Whipple, Job Page, 
Stephen Clarke, Sally Page, Amos Lapham, Adam Jenckes, 
William Jenckes, George Eddy, Peter Harris, Samuel Mann, 
Nathaniel Streeter, William Harris, George Hill, John Jenckes, 
Jr., Isaac Comstock, Nicholas Jenckes, Lewis Dexter, Charles 
Angell, Jr., Edward Tripp, James Bryan, Jonathan Harris, 
Simon Harris, Thomas Mann, Benjamin Newell, Jesse Harris, 
George Streeter, Dexter Ballou, Smith Sayles, Welcome Har- 
ris, George Chace, Jonathan Lapham, Nathaniel Spaulding, 
William Aldrich, Jr., and Job Lapham, were made a u Body 
politic and corporate by the name of the Smithfield Third 
Library- Company." 

The purpose was to establish a library of useful books, 
certain of the incorporated members having theretofore 
associated themselves together for said purpose. But the 
corporation was authorized to hold lands to the value of five 



HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 



Gl 



thousand dollars. It will be seen at once over what a wide 
territory these persons were distributed, and how modest 
were their ideas as to the value of the u tenement" in which 
to place that library owned, or to be owned by so numerous 
a company, with right to admit others, and, in the language 
of the charter, "to subsist at all times forever hereafter." 

• 

1805. Joseph Farnum, Noah Farnum, Jabez Mo wry, 
Stephen Olney, William F. Magee, Henry Smith, Fenner 
Angell, Nicholas Brown, Rufus Waterman, Amos T. Jenckes, 
George Weeden, James Smith, Noah Arnold, Benjamin 
Sheldon, David Mowry, Gardner Aldrich, Artemas Smith, 
Delvin Smith, Chad Smith, Cyrus Cook, Thomas Arnold, 
Eleazer Bellows, Richard Mowry, Enos Mowry and others 
were incorporated for the purpose of building and estab- 
lishing a turnpike road from Providence to the line of Mas- 
sachusetts in Douglass or Uxbridge. 

The Smithfield Turnpike Company was incorporated at 
the February session of the General Assembly, 1805, the 
following named persons being the incorporators: Joseph 
Farnum," Noah Farnum, Jabez Mowry, Stephen Olney, 
William F. Magee, Henry Smith, Fenner Angell, Nicholas 
Brown, Rufus Waterman, Amos T. Jenckes, George Weeden, 
James Smith, Noah Arnold, Benjamin Sheldon, David Mow- 
ry, Gardner Aldrich, Artemas Smith, Delvin Smith, Chad 
Smith, Cyrus Cook, Thomas Arnold, Eleazer Bellows, Rich- 
ard Mowry, and Enos Mowry. 

February, 1805, the Smithfield Union Bank was incorpo- 
rated with a capital of fifty thousand dollars, and, having 
been chosen by the stockholders, Peleg Arnold, Stephen 
Whipple, Enos Mowry, Baruch Aldrich, William Buffum, 
Duty Winsor, Jesse Brown, Walter Allen, Thomas Mann, 
Simon Whipple, Thomas Aldrich, Elisha Olney and Joel 
Aldrich were appointed temporary Directors. 

August, 1807, the town voted to rebuild the middle bridge 



62 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 

at Woonsocket Falls, as had theretofore been done between 
the towns of Smithfield and Cumberland; and at the same 
time appropriated two hundred dollars toward rebuilding 
the westernmost, or capital bridge at Woonsocket Falls. 

1807. October. John Slater having petitioned therefor, 
Seth Mowiy, Robert Harris, Enos Mowry and, Ananias Mow- 
ry were empowered to raise four thousand dollars by lot- 
tery, to be appropriated to building a meeting ftouse in the 
town of Smithfield. 

1808. October. Samuel Clark, Simon Aldrich, Simon 
Whipple, John Jenckes, 2d, Jeremiah Whipple, Ahab Mow 
ry, Nathaniel Mowry, Winsor Aldrich, James Aldrich and 
Susannah Jenckes were incorporated by the name of the 
Smithfield School Society, and empowered to hold property 
to the amount of ten thousand dollars. 

Enos Mowry, Ananias Mowry, Seth Mowry and Arnold 
Mowry were empowered to raise the sum of two thousand 
dollars by lottery, for the benefit of the Smithfield Academic 
Society. 

At the October session, 1808, the Smithfield Academic 
Society was incorporated, Enos Mowry, Seth Mowry and 
Nicholas Brown being incorporators. 

1810. February. Peleg Arnold,- Richard Steere, Ezekiel 
Comstock, Joel Aldrich, John W. C. Baxter and David 
Aldrich were made a body corporate by the name of The 
Trustees of the Smithfield Academy. They were empow- 
ered to hold real and personal property, not exceeding in 
all, five thousand dollars. 

President — Peleg Arnold. 
Vice-President — Joel Aldrich. 
Treasurer — Richard Steere. 
Secretary — David Aldrich. 

Peleo- Arnold, Marcus Arnold and George Aldrich were 



HTSTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 63 

authorized to raise by lottery the sum of fifteen hundred 
dollars, for the erection of a building for the Smithfield 
Academy. 

October. William Steere, David Sayles and John Esten 
made report to the General Assembly that they had ex- 
pended more money in building a meeting house, than they 
had received from a lottery. 

1812. February. Duty Winsor, Daniel Winsor, Anson 
Mowry, Elijah Day, Emor Olney, Nathan B. Sprague, Augus- 
tus Winsor, Jr., Ziba Smith, Abraham Smith and Asa Win- 
sor incorporated as Trustees of the Greene Academy ; to 
hold property to the amount of five thousand dollars. 

A lottery was granted to the benefit of the Greene 
Academy. 

February 12, 1812, the Trustees of the Greene Academy 
in Smithfield were incorporated. The incorporators were 
Duty Winsor, Daniel Winsor, Aaron Mowry, Elijah Day, 
Emor Olney, Nathan B. Sprague, Augustus Winsor, Jr., 
Ziba Smith, Abraham Smith, and Asa Winsor. And at the 
'February session, 1812, the trustees were granted the right 
to hold a lottery to raise twenty-two hundred dollars. 

June, 1812, the town considering that the sum of five dol- 
lars per month allowed by Congress to the soldiers drafted 
from the town was inadequate to common laborers ; and 
feeling that the general complaint in regard thereto was 
just, voted that such drafted men, or any who should serve 
for them, should be paid by the town seven dollars per 
month. 

1814. The Independent Smithfield Rifle Company was 
incorporated. 

Captain — Thomas Wright. 
First Lieutenant — Benjamin Bennett. 
Second Lieutenant — Jonathan Cole, 
Ensign— Benjamin Harris. 



64 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 

1814. The Smithfield Light Infantry Company was in- 
corporated. 

Captain — Jedediah Carpenter. 
Lieutenant — Samuel Taft. 
Ensign — Henry Carpenter. 

At the October session of the General Assembly, A. D. 
1818, Thomas Buffum, David Ide, Rowland Rathbone, Win- 
sor Alclrich, Nathaniel Mowry, 3d, Jeremiah Smith, William 
Buffum, Jr., Ezekiel Comstock and James Harkness were 
made a corporation by the name and style of the New Eng- 
land Pacific Bank, to be located and established in the town 
of Smithfield. The capital stock was fifty thousand dollars. 
The Directors, until others were elected, were named in the 
charter, as follows : Thomas Buffum, Nathaniel Mowry, 3d, 
William Buffum, Jr., Ezekiel Comstock and James Harkness. 

1820. The first Cadet Company in the sixth Regiment of 
Militia was incorporated. 

Captain — Harris J. Mowry. 
First Lieutenant— Otis Marsh. 
Second Lieutenant — Simon Aldrioh, 3d. 
Ensign — Charles 0. Mowry. 

August, 1821, it was voted to "cause a town house 
to be built in some convenient part of said town;" and Reu- 
ben Mowry, Thomas Mann and Thomas Buffum were chosen 
a committee to procure a lot, and build the town house. 

1822. Joseph Wilkinson and Benjamin Coe were ap- 
pointed a committee to ascertain the middle of the bridge at 
Woonsocket Falls, and repair the Smithfield half of the bridge 
or bridges. There was some dissatisfaction at the action of 
the committee in locating the town house on the town's lot 
"near the White School House," but it was voted that it 
should proceed to build there. The members of Congress 
were instructed to use their influence to get some alterations 



HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIEtiD. 65 

in the Bankrupt Bill, in agitation before Congress. The for- 
mer action in relation to the town house was repealed. The 
bridge committee aforesaid, was directed to negotiate with 
the authorities of the town of Cumberland in relation to the 
bridges at Woonsocket, Unity (Manville) and " Whipple's." 
A survey of the town was also moved. It was voted 89 to 
in favor of a written Constitution for this State. 

June, 1822, Daniel Winsor, Daniel Mathewson, Jesse Fos- 
ter and Stephen W. Smith were incorporated by the name 
of The Baptist Society in the southwesterly part of Smith- 
field. 

June, 1822, Daniel Winsor, Joseph Mathewson, Dexter 
Irons, Nathan B. Sprague, Asa Winsor, Richard Smith, 
Stephen Steere, John S. Appleby, Reuben Mo wry, Silas 
Smith and Elisha Steere were incorporated as The Smith- 
field Exchange Bank. Capital stock forty thousand dollars. 

1823. Joseph Wilkinson was appointed to attend to the 
indictment against Cumberland in regard to the bridges at 
Woonsocket ; Smithfield had been indicted in the same be- 
half, a few years before. A tax was voted to be levied 
upon the Blackstone Cotton factory, and thereafter the 
Representatives were instructed to oppose the petition of 
the Blackstone Manufacturing Company to the General 
Assembly, in relation to said tax. 

October, 1824, it was voted 129 to 18 in favor of the 
Constitution framed at Newport, in June preceding. 

October, 1826, the eastern and lower section of the Smith- 
field and Glocester Turnpike, was designated as the Mineral 
Spring Turnpike. 

In 1827, the town voted that the Representatives in the 
General Assembly use their influence to procure a law taxing 
cotton and woolen machinery in the town where operated ; 
and that they should endeavor to procure the repeal of the 
new Judiciary law. The northern line of the town was not 



66 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 

fairly established, and Thomas Matin and Joseph Wilkinson 
were appointed a committee to ascertain whether the new 
factory of Welcome and Darius Farnum was or not in Rhode 
Island. 

January, 1828, Nathaniel Mowry, 2d, Winsor Aldrich, 
Simon Whipple, Ahab Mowry, Nathan Aldrich, John Dex- 
ter, Jesse Mowry, Nathaniel Scott, Jeremiah Smith. Amasa 
Mowry, Stephen G. Arnold, Sterry Jenckes, Jeremiah Whip- 
ple, George Smith and John Jenckes were incorporated by 
the name of the Smithfield Lime Rock Bank. Capital stock 
one hundred thousand dollars. 

1828. Messrs. John Harris, Jr., of Scituate, Thomas 
Mann, of Smithfield, Samuel W. King, of Johnston, George 
Burton, of Cranston, Barney Merry, of North Providence, 
and Benjamin C. Harris, of Providence, were made a com- 
mittee to superintend the drawing the Free Will Baptist 
Society's Lottery, in Smithfield. 

1832. Samuel Greene, Joseph M. Brown, James Wilson, 
Jr., Ariel Ballou, Jr., Edward Harris, and others were in- 
corporated by the name of the St. James Church, at 
Woonsocket Falls in Smithfield ; and the corporation was 
authorized to hold property in the sum of fifty thousand 
dollars. 

January, 1834, Lewis Dexter, Jeremiah Smith, Morton 
Mowry, and others were incorporated into a banking com- 
pany, by the name of the President, Directors and Company 
of the Providence County Bank. The capital stock was 
fifty thousand dollars. 

Location changed to Woonsocket, 1855. Name changed 
to Globe Bank. 

In 1835, Arnold Spear and Lewis Dexter as a commit- 
tee for the town, purchased the Seth Mowry farm for live 
thousand five hundred dollars; and in 1836, Ethan Harris 
was chosen to Li repair the outside of the town's meeting 
house, and make some necessary repairs inside of said house." 



HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 67 

1835. Timothy W. Dexter, and his associates, were in- 
corporated by the name of Christ's Church in Lonsdale, in 
Smithfield; for the purpose of establishing and maintaining 
public worship. The corporation was authorized to hold 
property to the amount of thirty thousand dollars. 

1836. Daniel Hale, Stephen P. Train, John Vannerar, 
Nathan Young, Bradbnry C. Hill, Washington Wilkinson 
and others were incorporated by the name of Emanuel 
Church, at Manville, in Smithfield. To hold property not 
exceeding in value ten thousand dollars. 

1836. Reuben Mo wry, Alexander Barney, Abuer Bal- 
lou, Phillips Hill, John Jenckes, Jeremiah Smith, Willard 
Smith, Lewis Dexter, Daniel Jenckes, George L. Barnes. 
Samuel B. Harris, Thomas D. Holmes, Daniel C. Jenckes, 
G. H.^ Mo wry, E. Ide, and those who should become mem- 
bers, were created a body corporate and politic, by the 
name of the Lime Rock Baptist Society, in Smithfield. 
The society was empowered to have and to hold real and 
personal estate not exceeding in all the sum of ten thousand 
dollars. 

In 1837, the Representatives were instructed to use their 
exertions to procure the passage of an act authorizing the 
town to form itself into school districts; and that the said 
districts might tax themselves for the building: of school 
houses, and might- appoint each for itself a school commit- 
tee. A petition was also by a unanimous vote addressed to 
the General Assembly as follows: a The Citizens of tin- 
Town of Smithfield, in Town Meeting assembled, would 
respectfully represent that they were incorporated in the 
year 1730 with all the benefits and 'privileges which other 
towns in this State have and enjoy ; that at that time the 
population of the town was small; that they then sent two 
Representatives to the General Assembly, which, probably, 
was a fair representation for the then population. Hut since 



68 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 

that time the population and business of the town has greatly 
increased; that in 1830 the population of the town was 
6,853, and is believed now to be 8,000 or more; that in the 
early settlement of the town they were almost exclusively 
an agricultural people, but at the present time the pursuits 
of the citizens are extended to a greater variety of occupa- 
tions than almost any other town in this State. The citizens 
of this town are free to admit that a larger town ought not 
to be entitled to the same representation in proportion to its 
population as a small one, but they do say, that such a gross 
inequality of representation as now exists in this State, ought 
to be corrected without delay. When the citizens of this 
town look at the present representation from the several 
towns in the State and see that the town of Portsmouth 
with a population of about 1,700, sends four Representatives 
to the State Legislature and this town but two they see that 
one freeman in Portsmouth has about the same representa- 
tion in the legislature of the State as twenty freemen in 
Smithfield ; to which the citizens of this town are unwilling 
longer silently to submit. 

Wherefore they would respectfully request the General 
Assembly to take the subject of the extreme inequality of 
the present representation from the several towns in this 
State under consideration, and in such manner as seems most 
practicable and just correct the evil complained of." 

1838. George Aldrich, 4th, George H. Mowry, William 
H. Gardner and others were incorporated by the name of 
the Lime Rock Library; to hold property not exceeding 
five thousand dollars. 

At the June session, 1838, George O. Smith and others 
preferred a petition for the division of Smithfield, and at 
the January session, 1839, the petitioners, at their own re- 
quest, had leave to withdraw their petition. 

In the year 1839, the town council was instructed not to 
grant licenses for the sale of intoxicating liquors in less 



HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 69 

amount than one gallon ; and a committee was appointed to 
examine into the expenses of the town as to the support of 
the poor since the purchase of the town farm, and make a 
detailed statement, In 1840, Arnold Spear, Lewis Dexter 
and Dexter Aldrich were appointed a committee to draft 
rules and regulations for the management of the town farm, 
and the poor of the town. It was also provided that a com- 
mittee of three be appointed to examine persons proposing 
to teach in the schools ; this committee was also to recom- 
mend school books, and visit the schools. The first school 
committee, chosen in town meeting, consisted of Amos D. 
Lockwood, Nicholas S. Winsor and Samuel S. Mallery. The 
school committee was enlarged so as to consist of five persons. 
Spencer Mowry was appointed to consider the expediency 
of building a stone arch bridge over the easterly stream at 
Woonsocket Falls, and negotiate with the town of Cumber- 
land ; the expense to Smithfield to be not over four hundred 
dollars. James I. Harkness was appointed on the school 
committee in place of Mr. Lockwood, who declined to serve, 
and Thomas D. Holmes and David W. Aldrich were added 
to said committee. The town council was instructed not 
to grant license t,o any person to exhibit Circus Sports or 
performances. Twelve hundred and seventy- three T V 3 <r dol- 
lars were voted to George Olney as the committee who had 
built Whipple's bridge. In 1841, the sum of three thousand 
dollars was appropriated for the repair of highways, and one 
thousand dollars for the public schools. As early as 1828, 
it had been voted that the money appropriated for the pub- 
lic schools should be divided; one-half equally among the 
several districts, and the other half according to the number 
of scholars from four to twenty years old; and in 1829 an 
appropriation of five hundred dollars was made, which was 
increased in 1830 to six hundred dollars, and in 1831 to one 
thousand dollars ; no school tax appears as of record to 
have been levied in. 1832, but in 1837 a tax of one thousand 



70 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 

dollars was levied for school purposes, and this sum was an- 
nually appropriated until the year 1843, when it was reduced 
to five hundred dollars, but was raised in 1844 to one thou- 
sand dollars. 

October, 1 <S 4 1 . Samuel Withington, Silas W. Plympton, 
George W. Steere, Edward H. Adams, Simeon Newton, 
Hiram Bennett, Daniel F. Knapp, David Daniels, Edward 
H. Sprague. Lyman Cook, Arnold Briggs, Ozias M. Morse, 
Thomas A. Paine, Seth Chapin, and such as should become 
members hereafter, were created a body corporate and pol- 
itic, by the name of The Congregational Society of Woon- 
socket Village, in Smithiield. They were entitled to hold 
property of every description not exceeding the value of 
twenty thousand dollars. 

At a town meeting held on the 31 day of August, 1841, 
Stephen Steere, John Jenckes, Charles Moies and George 
Aldrich were appointed delegates from this town to attend 
a Convention to be holden at Providence, on the first Mon- 
day of November next, to frame a new Constitution for this 
State, either in whole or in part, with full powers for that 
purpose. 

A town meeting was held on the twenty-first, twenty- 
second and twenty-third days of March, 1842, to vote for 
the ratification or rejection of the Constitution adopted by 
the Constitutional Convention, held in Providence on the 
first Monday in November, 1841. 

The vote of the town of Smithiield was: 

For Ratification .... 334 

For Reject ion 993 

In August of this year, Samuel B. Harris, Charles Moies, 
Nathan B. Sprague and Edward H. Sprague were chosen 
delegates to attend a Convention to be holden at Newport, 
on the second Monday of September next, to frame a new 
Constitution for this State, either in whole or in part, with 
lull power for that purpose. 



HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 71 

At a town meeting held on the twenty-first, twenty-second 
and twenty-third days of November, 1842, held to vote for 
the adoption or rejection of the Constitution proposed by 
the Constitutional Convention held at Newport in Septem- 
ber preceding ; and also to vote upon the question, whether 
in case the said proposed Constitution be adopted, the blank 
in the first line of section second, of article second of said 
Constitution, shall be filled by the word "White." Upon 
counting the votes there appeared : 

For Adoption ;>i4 

For Rejection None. 

For tilling the blank with the word " White " . . . -~>4 
Against so rilling the blank 302 

May, 1842, the Wionkheige Library, upon the petition of 
Harris Wing, was revived, and Robert Harris authorized to 
call the first meeting. 

June, 1843, the petition of Charles Moies and others, that 
the town of Smitlrfield may be divided, was continued. 

1843. David Clark, Isaac Smith, Alfred Arnold, E. S. 
Barrows, Peleg B. Sherman, A. Palsey, Daniel W. Luther, 
and such other males as now compose the Lonsdale Baptist 
Church, and such others as may become members of this 
corporation, were incorporated by the name of the First 
Baptist Society in Lonsdale, Smithfield ; for the purpose of 
establishing and maintaining the worship of Almighty God, 
according to the rites and ordinances of the Baptist denom- 
ination, as practiced by the Warren Association. 

At the June town meeting in 1844, the town council was 
requested to obtain annually, hereafter from the town treas- 
urer, and other officers having the disbursement of the pub- 
lic money, a statement of the items, under general heads of 
the expenditures by them made ; and this information was 
to be made public. In 1845, the school committee was re- 
duced to three, and the members were to be paid one dollar 



72 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 

per day each, when engaged in their duties as such commit- 
tee. This year the town voted 573 to 86 against the grant- 
ing of licenses. Two thousand dollars was appropriated in 
1846 for the public schools, and the committee allowed inci- 
dental expenses in addition to one dollar per day. The 
town council was authorized to audit, settle and order paid 
all accounts and demands against the town of less amount 
than fifty dollars. Thomas Burrum was appointed a com- 
mittee to negotiate with the town of Cumberland in relation 
to the widening the westerly arch bridge at Woonsocket. 
The Senator and Representatives were instructed, in Novem- 
ber, as it seems at a meeting specially called therefor, to op- 
pose any dismemberment of the town. It was also voted 
unanimously not to divide the town. At the June town 
meeting, 1847, the town treasurer was requested to make 
thereafter, to the annual town meeting in June, a statement 
in writing of the situation of the town treasury. Five hun- 
dred copies of the report of the school committee were 
ordered published. Three hundred dollars was appropriated 
in 1848, to purchase safes for the safe keeping of the town 
records. In 1849, the town voted 417 to 355 in favor of 
granting licenses. This year the town voted to raise the 
highway tax in money. The appropriations for bridges and 
highways begin to increase notably. 

1845. Joseph Wood, Hiram Wilmarth, John Moies, Sam- 
uel Wood, Sylvester C. Pierce, Pardon White, and their 
associates, were incorporated by the name of the Central 
Falls Congregational Society ; for the purpose of erecting 
and maintaining a meeting house for the public worship of 
Almighty God, in the village of Central Falls, Smithfield, 
R. I., and for the purpose of supporting and promulgating 
the Christian religion, according to the rites and usages 
of the Trinitarian Congregational Churches in the United 
States. 



HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 73 

At the January session of the General Assembly, 1845, 
Smithfield was divided into four districts, for voting pur- 
poses. 

District No. 1 comprised all that portion of the town 
lying northerly of a line drawn from the Blackstone river at 
the Mott Dam, so called, to the junction of the Branch, and 
Providence and Douglass turnpikes, near the residence of 
Ethan Harris ; and from said junction, following the said 
Providence and Douglass turnpikes, northeasterly to the 
line of Burrillville. 

District No. 2 was bounded as follows: Beginning; at the 
said junction of the Branch, and Providence and Douglass 
turnpikes, near the residence of Ethan Harris ; thence 
northeasterly, following said Providence and Douglass turn- 
pikes to the road leading to Martin's way, at the corner near 
Daniel Angel Ts tavern house ; thence easterly with said road 
to the four corners, so called ; thence southerly, following 
the road to the Louisquissett turnpike, near the brick school 
house, and following the said road easterly to the old Provi 
deuce and Worcester road to a drift-way near the Smith 
lime-kiln ; thence easterly, following said drift- way to the 
river road, so called ; thence crossing said river road, near 
the Joseph Wilkinson house, and following a straight line 
and the nearest course to the Blackstone river. 

District No. 3, bounded northerly by said District No. 2, 
easterly by the town of Cumberland, southerly by the town 
of North Providence, and westerly by the Providence and 
Douglass turnpike. 

District No. 4, comprised that part of the town which lay 
southerly and southwesterly of the Providence and Douglass 
turnpike. 

October, 1846, James Barber, George C. Ballou, Edward 
H. Sprague, George S. Wardwell, Amos D. Lockwood, Wil- 
liam S. Slater, their associates and successors, were created 
a body corporate and politic, for the purpose of erecting 

10 



74 



HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 



and supporting- a Seminary of Learning in the town of 
Smithfield, in the vicinity of Woonsoeket, by the name of 
the Smithfield Union Institute. 

The June town meeting of 1850 was a laborious one. An 
unusual number of propositions were made to instruct the 
town council to lay out highways, and for appropriations for 
bridges; most of them were indefinitely postponed. The 
appropriation for the public schools, which had been for the 
three preceding years twenty-five hundred dollars, was raised 
to three thousand dollars; the school committee was in- 
creased to four members ; the town council was requested 
to put up the collection of the town tax to the lowest bid- 
der; the town treasurer, with the town clerk, were required 
to make a printed report showing the items for all moneys 
received and paid out for the town, and eight hundred 
copies of said report were to be printed for distribution. 
The town clerk was requested to prepare a tax book, and 
have five hundred copies thereof printed. 

In 1851, three thousand dollars was appropriated for the 
public schools, and four thousand dollars for repairs of high- 
ways, to be paid in labor or money at the option of the 
persons and corporations taxed. This shows that the town 
was not ready to pay for, or do its highway work in the 
most efficient manner. Asa Winsor, Spencer Mowry and 
Thomas Steere were appointed a, committee to revise the 
act of the town for repairing highways, passed August, 
1819. It was voted, and the vote is a significant one, that: 
"Whenever the tax payers in any part of the town wish to 
apply in town meeting for an appropriation for the building 
a new road or bridge, the same shall be inserted in the town 
meeting warrant calling said meeting.' 1 The sum of five 
hundred dollars was appropriated for the purchase of safes 
to keep the most important records ; the former appropria- 
tion of three hundred dollars having, doubtless, proved in- 
sufficient, and no action taken by virtue of it. 



HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. i •> 

1851. James H. Eames, Nathan B. Sprague, Sessions 
Mowry, Anthony Steere, A. W. Ballou, Darius Hawkins, 
.lames Ainsworth, James Sikes, William Tinkham, J. S. 
Steere and others were incorporated by the name of St. 
Thomas Church, Greenville, in the town of Smithfield, Rhode 
Island ; for the purpose of establishing and maintaining pub- 
lic worship, according to the rites and usages of the Protes- 
tant Episcopal Church in the United States of America. 
The corporation was empowered to hold property not ex- 
ceeding twenty -five thousand dollars. 

In 1852, four thousand five hundred dollars were appro- 
priated for the public schools; four thousand for highways. 
The several reports were taken up and disposed of. The 
bill reported by the committee to revise the highway law 
was enacted a law, and one thousand copies ordered printed. 

In 1853, the town treasurer was directed to be still more 
particular in the statements of the amount of taxes, and the 
amount collected ; his report was to be audited by the audi- 
tors of accounts, and by them certified. Four thousand five 
hundred dollars was appropriated for the public schools. 
The school committee was to consist of only three persons, 
the town council being requested to appoint only so many ; 
and no school teacher was to be a school committee-man. 

At the several district meetings of the town, held on the 
28th day of June, 1853, for the election of delegates to 
meet in Convention at the State House, in Providence, on 
the ninth day of August, A. D. 1853, for the purpose of 
forming a Constitution of government for this State, the 
following delegates were elected : Gideon Bradford, Thomas 
Steere, Welcome B. Sayles, Robert Harris, Daniel Pearce, 
.lames 0. Whitney and Asa Winsor. 

1853. Harvey Chace, Samuel B. Chace and Oliver Chace 
incorporated by the name of the Valley Falls Company. 

1853. Zachariah Allen, Philip Allen, Richard Waterman 



76 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 

and Amos D. Smith made a body corporate by the name and 
style of the Stillwater Reservoir Company. 

1854. Dexter Lime Rock Company incorporated. 

In 1854, the appropriations for schools and the repairs of 
highways were each four thousand five hundred dollars. 
Greater strictness was imposed upon the town treasurer in 
preparing his accounts, and he was allowed from that year, 
and for that year, the salary of fifty dollars. Charles Moies, 
Amasa Smith and Smith R. Mowry were appointed a com- 
mittee to report the best system of repairing highways and 
bridges. The town meeting recommended to the town 
council to reappoint the then three school committee men. 
A building was ordered to be erected for the accommoda- 
tion of the insane poor of the town, which poor were sup- 
ported by the town at the Butler Insane Asylum, in Provi- 
dence. Spencer Mowry was appointed the committee, and 
the building was to be built at a cost not exceeding one 
thousand dollars. 

In 1855, L. C. Tourtellot, Samuel Clarke, Samuel Clarke, 
Jr., Jacob Arnold and Jacob Bicknell, and their associates, 
were constituted a body politic and corporate by the name 
of the Moriah Library Association. 

At the June meeting in 1855, the report of the committee 
on repairing highways was laid on the table. The schools 
and highways received each an appropriation of forty-five 
hundred dollars. The school committee was required to 
have its accounts for services audited and presented to the 
annual June town meeting for settlement. The building of 
the insane hospital by Spencer Mowry was reported. Two 
thousand dollars was appropriated to construct a stone arch 
bridge across the Branch river at Slatersville ; William S. 
Slater made verbal proposals to build said bridge, and the 
details were such as to show that a most substantial structure 
was contemplated. In the Warrant had been included this 



HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. / i 

question : " That the town of Smithfield be divided ; be- 
ginning at the dividing line between the towns of Burrill- 
ville and Glocester, thence running Easterly parallel with 
the South line of said town of Smithfield, to the Blackstone 
river. 11 The vote was as follows: 

In the affirmative 63 

In the negative (!1 



124 



Upon the question: a To appoint a committee for the 
purpose of opposing the petition now pending before the 
General Assembly, praying to set off a portion of the town 
of Smithfield and of Cumberland into a town to be called 
Woonsocket ;" it was voted that Robert Harris be a com- 
mittee to oppose said petition. 

1856. Obed Paine, Elisha Steere, Winsor Farnum, Wil- 
liam Steere, Robert Harris, Ezra Whitford, Jabez W. Mowry, 
James Armington, William G. Perry, William Patt and 
others were incorporated by the name of the Georgiaville 
Evangelical Society, having for its object the building of a 
house of public worship in Georgiaville, in the town of 
Smithfield, and the more effectually promoting the diffusion 
of the benevolent principles of Christianity in the village 
and town aforesaid. 

The business at the June town meeting, 1856, was of a 
routine character. The appropriations for public schools 
are now so much a matter of course that they will not be 
noticed when of the ordinary character. They have been 
put on the same footing as the highways, and are as regu- 
larly and fully provided for. 

In June, 1858, t "An act regulating the financial affairs of 
the town of Smithfield," was presented by Charles Moies, 
u and after a debate of great length," it was rejected by a 
vote of 57 to 37. Whereupon it was referred to Joseph 



78 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 

Alray, Daniel Hale and William H. Seagraves, as a commit- 
tee to frame amendments thereto ; which committee reported 
it back to the meeting, with a recommendation that it pass. 
Upon vote it was rejected. The bills of physicians for at- 
tendance upon the poor of the town were ordered to be 
audited, by the auditors of accounts, and presented to the 
annual town meeting for allowance. The treasurer was 
directed to make estimates of the probable expenses for the 
ensuing year; he was also directed to secure a proper dis- 
tribution of his report before the day of the annual meet- 
ing. And no money was to be paid out of the town treasury 
between the day of concluding his report and the day of the 
annual meeting. 

1859. Oren A. Ballou, Stephen N. Mason and George S. 
Wardwell incorporated as the Hamlet Manufacturing Com- 
pany. 

At the annual town meeting, held on the 11th of June, 
1861, it was voted : That the town council be and they are 
hereby empowered to appoint a committee, consisting of 
seven persons, whose duty it shall be to investigate and en- 
quire into the condition of those families residing in said 
town of Smithfield, of which the members thereof have vol- 
unteered their services in the defence of the country during 
the unhappy troubles now existing throughout the land ; 
that said committee shall be empowered whenever they 
deem it necessary that assistance should be rendered to such 
families, to draw on the town treasurer, with an order from 
the town council for such sum of money as is deemed by 
them requisite for the use and benefit of such families. It 
being understood, the assistance in the above cases rendered 
shall not be deemed, or so reported in the town treasurer's 
report as u expenses for support of poor ; " but shall be kept 
separate, and reported as moneys paid to families of the vol- 
unteers in the internal war now existing. Voted, That said 
committee shall serve without pecuniary compensation. 



HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 79 

On the 29th of June, the town council appointed Joseph 
Wood, Anthony Steere and Harvey S. Bartlett a committee 
for the distribution of the moneys appropriated for the ben- 
efit of the families of the volunteers ; and on the 27th of July, 
the council ordered forty-two dollars and eighty-six cents 
to be paid Joseph Wood, as having been expended by him 
as one of said committee. On the 31st of August, Joseph 
Wood was allowed fifty-three dollars and seventy-four cents 
as said committee-man, for the relief to soldiers' families. 
September 13th, Arlon Mowry was appointed by the coun- 
cil, "Volunteer Relief Committee, for said town/ 1 On the 
28th of September, one hundred and twenty dollars was ap- 
propriated for the benefit of soldiers' families ; and William 
P. Steere was appointed relief committee. On the 27th of 
October, two hundred dollars was voted to the committee 
of relief. In November, two hundred and twenty-six^ dol- 
lars was voted said committee. In December, the relief com- 
mittee was allowed four hundred and ninety -seven T Vo dollars; 
and George Kent was appointed relief committee for District 
No. 3, to assist soldiers' families; and Joseph W. Tillinghast 
was appointed assistant relief committee for said district. 

At the January meeting of the town council, 1862, one 
hundred and eighty- onerro dollars were appropriated for the 
benefit of soldiers' families; and in February, the sum ap- 
plied to, and for the same purpose, was four hundred and 
thirty-five rVo dollars. For March, the amount so applied 
was five hundred and twenty-seven -M, dollars. For April, 
the sum as aforesaid was four hundred and seventy-five dol- 
lars. For May, it amounted to three hundred and seventy- 
five dollars. 

At the June town meeting, 1862, it was voted : That 
the town council be and they are hereby empowered to ap- 
point a committee, consisting of not more than twelve per- 
sons, whose duty it shall be to enquire into the condition of 
those families residing in said town of Smithfield of which 



80 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 

any members thereof are volunteers in the service of the 
United States. Said committee shall be empowered when- 
ever in their opinion said families need assistance to help 
said families in such way as to said committee seems proper, 
and to present at the end of each and every month, to the 
town council of said town, a bill of such assistance rendered, 
and if acceptable by said town council, and allowed, said 
committee shall be paid out of the moneys in the hands of 
the town treasurer the amount of their said bill ; which sums 
of money paid out by the town treasurer, shall be accounted 
for as relief to soldiers' families. Said committee to serve 
without compensation. 

On the 30th of July, 1862, a special town meeting was 
held, and it was voted : That a committee of eight persons 
be appointed to draw resolutions in order to carry out the 
object of the meeting. William S. Slater, Stephen N. Mason, 
Lewis Dexter, Benoni Cooke, Charles Moies, Bailey E. 
Borden, William P. Steere and Jabez W. Mowry were 
chosen said committee. 

The committee made the following report : 

Whereas the President of the United States having issued his call 
for three hundred thousand men. in addition to those now in the 
military service of our country; and whereas it is desirable that this 
town be as prompt in the future, as in times past, in doing her duty 
in putting down the present -rebellion; It is, therefore, Voted and 
ordered, that the sum of two hundred dollars be offered as a bounty, 
and to be paid to each and every able-bodied man, the whole number 
not to exceed one-hundred and thirty-eight, the quota of this town, 
as made out by the Adjutant General, who shall enlist by authority 
of the Governor of this State, for service under the call of the Presi- 
dent of the United States, as originally issued, or as it may have 
been, or may hereafter be modified by the authority issuing it; to be 
paid to said volunteer so enlisting, in the following manner, to wit: 
Twenty-five dollars when he shall have passed a surgical examination 
and been sworn as provided by law: twenty-five dollars when mustered 
into the service of the United States, and the balance to be subject to 
his written order, in monthly installments of fifty dollars each, until 
the whole is paid. 



HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SM1THFIELD. 81 

The town treasurer was authorized to borrow the sum of 
twenty-seven thousand six hundred dollars to pay the boun- 
ties aforesaid. Stephen N. Mason, Samuel Clark, Bailey E. 
Borden and William Winsor were appointed a committee to 
draw orders for the payment of said bounties ; said commit 
tee was given ''discretionary powers" to advance and pro- 
mote enlistments, and the sum of four hundred dollars was 
appropriated for its expenses. 

At a special town meeting, held in September, it was 
voted that the committee appointed by the town council to 
assist the families of volunteers, should be paid such com- 
pensation for their services as the town council shall deem 
sufficient. Thomas Moies and James N. Woodward, for 
District No. 3, William T. Smith and Fenner Colwell, for 
District No. 1, and William A. Bishop and Benjamin A. 
Winsor, for District No. 4, were appointed recruiting offi- 
cers for the town. 

Voted : That the sum of one dollar per week be paid to 
the wife of each volunteer who may enlist in a company 
formed within the town of Smithfield ; or if no wife, to his 
mother, if dependent, and fifty cents per week to each and 
every child, not including boys over sixteen years of age, 
and not to exceed the sum of twelve dollars per month to 
any one family. 

The town council failed to appoint the committee of 
twelve, as empowered by the town, to disburse the money 
for the relief of soldiers' families, but continued through the 
year on the plan first adopted. 

The disbursements were : 

July $796.03 

August 513.37 

September 419.25 

October 459.69 

November 693.51 

December 773.91 

ii 



82 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 

1862. Ezra Whitford, Richard Mowiy, Daniel G. Aldrich, 
Smith Mowry, 2d, and such others as are or may become 
members of the corporation, were created a body corporate 
by the name of the Smithfield United Society, for the pur- 
pose of establishing and maintaining the worship of Al- 
mighty God. 

May, 1863, Harvey Chace, Samuel B. Chace and Oliver 
Chace, were incorporated as the Manville Company. 

1863. Valuation of Smithfield, $6,806,850. 

At the January session of the General Assembly, 1864, 
William Pooke, Simeon S. Steere, Nehemiah Tinkham, Wil- 
liam Winsor, Daniel Champlin, William Tyler, William A. 
Steere, George P. Grant, James Grop, Stephen Steere, 
Daniel Winsor, Gideon Peckham, Philip L. Medbury, Harris 
Farnum, Allen Place and Henry Winsor, were incorporated 
by the name of the First Freewill Baptist Church of Smith- 
field, for religious purposes. 

In June, 1864, the town gave the Council further author- 
ity in the matter of relief to the families of soldiers. The 
war expenses of the town were nearly forty thousand dol- 
lars. 

In 1866, six thousand dollars was appropriated for the 
public schools. 

In 1867 eight thousand dollars was so appropriated. 

1868. Fourteen thousand dollars was so appropriated. 
Fifteen hundred dollars was appropriated towards building 
the " Dr. Ballon " bridge, so called, across the Blackstone 
river at Woonsocket, Six thousand dollars was appropri- 
ated toward building a bridge at Central Falls. Fifteen 
hundred dollars was appropriated toward building a bridge 
at the Albion. 

In 1869, eighteen thousand dollars was appropriated for 
the use of the public schools. 



HTSTORY OF THE TOWN OF RMITHFIELD. 83 

Fifteen thousand dollars was appropriated for the repair 
of highways. 

For building a pier for the Dr. Ballon bridge there was 

appropriated $ 250.00 

To complete the bridge at Central Falls 2000.00 

For bridges leading to the "Old Maids 1 Farm ". . . 500.00 

For a culvert on Logee Hill 500.00 

To grade Broad street, Central Falls 1500.00 

For lamp posts, and lamps, and lights 2500.00 

For curbing ~ 2000.00 

It was directed that the school committee should consist 
of six persons. 

George Kilburn, Charles Moies, Nathaniel W. Spaulding 
and George W. Holt, who were appointed a committee, in 
18G8, to oppose the petition to have a part of the town of 
Smithfield set off to Woonsocket, were continued such com- 
mittee. 

The assessors of taxes were directed to view the estates 
of the town before fixing the valuation, when necessary, 
and they were allowed three dollars per day. 

At the June town meeting, 1870, it was voted, that: A 
committee consisting of five persons be appointed to confer 
with the committee from the town of Woonsocket in the 
matter of setting off and annexing to said town of Woon- 
socket a portion of the town of Smithfield ; said committee 
to report to an adjourned meeting. 

Voted, that said committee be appointed by nomination 
and vote. 

Voted, that said committee be selected, two from district 
No. 1, and one from each of the other three districts of the 
town. 

Voted, that Bradbury C. Hill, Stephen N. Mason, George 
Kilburn, Pardon Angell and Samuel Clark be, and they 
are hereby appointed a committee for the town of Smith- 



84 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 

field, to confer with a committee from the town of Woon- 
socket, to see if any arrangement can be made satisfactory 
to both towns, whereby a portion of the town of Smithfield 
shall be set off and annexed to the town of Woonsocket, 
The committee was to report to an adjourned meeting. 

Eighteen thousand dollars was appropriated for the use 
of the public schools, and one thousand dollars for evening 
schools. 

At the adjourned meeting, aforementioned, Stephen N. 
Mason offered the following resolution : 

Resolved : That the freemen of the town of Smithfield, 
in town meeting assembled, are favorable to a division -of 
the town, setting off and annexing to the town of Woon- 
socket that part of the town which has been canvassed by 
the committee. 

Upon vote taken, the result was declared by the modera- 
tor to be : 

In favor thereof 42 

Opposed 193 

Thomas Steere, George A. Kent, Bradbury C. Hill, 
John A. Adams and Pardon Angell were appointed a com- 
mittee to investigate concerning an article published in the 
Providence Journal against the overseer of the poor, the 
keeper of the town asylum, and the commissioners of the 
town asylum, and the general treatment of the poor. Said 
committee to have power to send for persons and papers, to 
report to the town council, and to publish their proceedings 
in pamphlet form for distribution, and the result of the 
investigation to be published in the Providence Journal. 

The report of this committee was made to the town 
council in December, and copies thereof were directed by 
the council to be distributed among the taxpayers of the 
town. 



HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 85 

At a special town meeting, held on the 21st of January, 
1871, to take into consideration the subject of dividing the 
town of Smithfield into three towns, and establishing the 
boundary lines thereof, the following question was put: 

Shall the town of Smithfield be divided or not? 

The vote was : 

In the affirmative Ill 

In the negative 33 



144 



It was then voted that this meeting favors a division of 
the town of Smithfield, according to the act now on the 
Moderator's table. 

This bill, which was carefully considered, was the bill 
which was passed by the General Assembly, with a few, 
unimportant alterations. 

On the 25th of March, 1871, the town council appointed 
Thomas Steere, Thomas Barnes and Joseph W. Tillinghast 
a committee to investigate the matter of the claims for 
damages by the abutting proprietors on Washington street, 
Central Falls. 

Charles Moies, Thomas Steere and Thomas Barnes were 
appointed a committee to examine claims made for damages 
by reason of the grading of Broad street. 

The direct action which resulted in the division of the 
town of Smithfield originated in a petition to the General 
Assembly, at its January session, 1867. This petition was 
continued to the May, and again to the January session, 
1868. At the May session, 1868, the House Judiciary 
Committee recommended the continuance of the petition, 
submitting as the opinion of the committee that some action 
should be taken (by the town) tending to remedy the griev- 
ances complained of growing out of the present organiza- 
tion of the town of Smithfield. At the January session, 



86 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 

1869, the majority — four out of five — of the Joint Special 
Committee, to whom this matter of the division of the town 
had been referred, made a very elaborate report, recom- 
mending such division. A minority report was also made. 
The u Act" reported by the committee was laid on the table. 
Another petition, being substantially a continuation of the 
proceedings commenced in 1867, was preferred to the Jan- 
uary session of the General Assembly, 1870. It was con- 
tinued to the May session and then to the January session, 
1871. After repeated hearings, the Joint Special Commit- 
tee, upon the open or tacit agreement of the parties con- 
cerned, recommended the passage of the bill which had 
been drawn, and the town was, by the General Assembly, 
divided. 



CHAPTER III 



MANUFACTURING AND MECHANICAL INDUSTRY. 

"VTO proper idea of the value of Smithfield, or of Rhode 
--i Island, as the home of inventive genius and persevering 
industry can be had without a slight acquaintance, at least, 
with the skill and work of the early Wilkinsons. 

Israel Wilkinson was born in Smithfield, in 1711, near 
Manville, at which place he built the "Unity Furnace," so 
long a prominent landmark in the town. He also built, in 
conjunction with Nicholas and Moses Brown, of Providence, 
and others, the "Hope Furnace," in Cranston. He was 
called to Boston to aid in casting cannon previous to the 
Revolution. On one occasion, the workmen in Boston hav- 
ing found it impossible to extract the "core," Mr. Wilkin- 
son was sent for, and upon his departure, his -wife, with a 
womanly and Quaker-like prudence, said to him: "Israel, 
see to it that they pay thee well." Upon his return, enter- 
taining no doubt of his mechanical success, but doubtful as 
to the pecuniary reward, she asked him what he had been 
given. To which the good Friend made answer : "As 
good a bowl of punch as ever a man drank." 

Oziel Wilkinson was born in Smithfield, and was a me- 
chanic from a boy. His father had a blacksmith shop on 
Mussey's brook, a small stream which empties into the 
Blackstone river, just above Albion. He was afterwards 
associated with Samuel Slater in manufacturing cotton yarn 
at Pawtucket, Said Slater married one of his daughters. 



88 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 

David Wilkinson, son of Oziel, worked with his father in 
the shop, and was the inventor of the sliding lathe, in 
1794, for which he received a patent in 1798, although 
from it he received no pecuniary advantage. In 1848, 
Congress made an appropriation of ten thousand dollars to 
him, u as a remuneration to him for the benefit accruing to 
the public service for the use of the principle of the guage 
and sliding lathe, of which he was the inventor, now in use in 
the workshops of the government at the different national 
armories and arsenals." He also invented and constructed 
a working engine, which was placed in one of John Brown's 
India ship's boats, operating successfully. 

But it is the cotton manufacture which has been the 
prominent one in Smithfield, as in the State. And although 
Samuel Slater began his important work in Pawtucket, he 
soon came to Smithfield, and here his name is perpetuated 
in that of one of the most delightful of New England vil- 
lages. His name is linked to the history of Smithfield, also, 
by his marriage with the daughter of one of the first and 
most enterprising mechanics of this town, which, in those 
early days, was famous for its shrewd, and capable and in- 
genious artisans. 

To Samuel Slater belongs the honor of having introduced 
into this country, the manufacture, which, in its far extend- 
ing influence, is greatly the most valuable in the land, and 
which affects in one way or another every inhabitant of the 
country. After food, clothing is the first necessity of life; 
and of all the materials provided by nature, cotton is the 
most extensively used, the world over. Samuel Slater wit- 
nessed the first crude experiments which were made in the 
endeavor to spin cotton by machinery. His name is associ- 
ated, and honorably associated with those of Strutt and Ark- 
wright. From the earliest ages cotton cloth has been manu- 
factured in the East, where the plant is indigenous, but the 
yarn was, and is, spun upon the distaff, and the loom em- 



HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 89 

ployed is simply a few sticks or reeds which the weaver 
carries in his hands, and puts it up in the shade of a tree, 
or at the side of his cottage, and moves from place to place, 
as fancy dictates or the heat compels. An overspreading 
branch, to which to fasten his balances, a hole in the ground 
to hold his legs and the lower part of the "geer," and his 
well trained muscles, supply the Indian with u privilege" 
and "power." With this rude material, the East Indian 
has for centuries produced fabrics, some of them so tine as 
to be properly designated in the poetic language of the 
Orient, u webs of woven wind," of such exquisite texture as 
scarcely to be discerned under a heavy dew. But what 
the manufacture was thousands of years ago, that it is to- 
day. When the inhabitants of the British Isles were clothed 
in skins, ere Caesar had carried civilization and the sword 
thither, the Indian artisan produced a fabric which is yet 
equally a beauty and a wonder. But what he did then he 
does now, and nothing more. This superior product was 
the result of generations of training culminating with a few 
individuals in extraordinary skill. The great bulk of the 
cloth was of such quality as could easily be made by a great 
majority of the inhabitants, and such as the every-day wants 
of the population demanded. In the East there have been 
no improvements, no inventions, no building up of towns 
and opening up of new lands ; the warp is" still stretched on 
the ground, and the operative is still half naked and wholly 
ignorant. The introduction of machinery into India has 
not proved successful. It has brought no profit to the 
English and subjugated the laborer to slavery. 

In the year 1769, Richard Arkwright (afterwards Sir 
Richard), obtained his patent for spinning with rollers, 
and associated with him in business a Mr. Need, and Mr. 
Strut t, the latter a man of great mechanical knowledge and 
the largest business capacity. This firm erected the same 
year a mill in Nottingham, worked by horse power, which 

13 



90 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 

was superseded in 1771, by one built in Cromford, to which 
motion was given by water. In 1783, Samuel Slater en- 
tered the establishment of Strutt and Arkwright, and con- 
tinued in their service for some eight years, having in the 
meantime not only become perfectly familiar with the whole 
routine of the business, but entirely capable, as it afterwards 
appeared, of constructing from memory the machinery re- 
quisite to spin the yarn. ( >n the 15th day of September, 
1789, Mr. Slater sailed from London for New York, where, 
after a passage of sixty -six days, he arrived, and whence he 
departed January, 1790, for Providence. On the 18th day 
of the same month, Moses Brown carried him to Pawtucket, 
and on the 20th clay of December next following, he started 
three cards, drawing and roving, and seventy-two spindles,, 
which were worked by an old fulling mill water wheel in a 
clothiers building, in which the business of Almy, Brown & 
Slater was continued for about twenty months, at the 
expiration of which time they had several thousand pounds 
of yarn on hand, notwithstanding every exertion was used 
to weave and sell it. 

It is almost impossible to conceive the difficulties which 
surrounded and impeded the success of Slater. He was a 
stranger in a strange land ; there was no person who had 
ever worked upon such machinery as he proposed to con- 
struct ; there were no machine shops ; few skilled workmen 
either in wood or iron, and no facilities for him in the ac- 
complishment of his designs ; he had not even the roughest 
sketch of his machines ; he had only a tenacious memory, 
a thorough knowledge of what was wanted, and an in- 
domitable will. Fortunately he found at once in Oziel 
Wilkinson, one, who like himself possessed a keen mind 
and a mechanical genius. They together made, or superin- 
tended the making, of the necessary tools to be used, and 
amid all the discouragements, and they were neither few 
nor small, which Mr. Slater encountered, he ever found in 



HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 91 

Mr. Wilkinson a friend and an adviser. Up to this time, 
no carding or spinning machinery had been successfully 
operated, and none at all by water. Tristam Burges, in 
Congress, paid this eloquent tribute to these men, to whom 
Rhode Island owes so much : u A circumstance worthy the 
attention of the whole nation, and worthy, also,. of a fair 
page in her history, is the art and mystery of making cloth 
with machinery moved by water power. This was intro- 
duced into Rhode Island, and commenced in Pawtucket, 
four miles from Providence, about the same time that the 
American system was established, by the import law of 
July 4th, 1789. Samuel Slater, an English mechanic of the 
first order of mental ability, brought this invention to Paw- 
tucket. He could not bring out from England, models, 
draughts or specifications, the whole art was treasured in 
his own mind ; that alone, which could not be rummaged 
and pillaged by any custom house regulation. He, on his 
arrival, addressed himself to Oziel Wilkinson & Sons. They 
were blacksmiths, whose hands were as skillful as their 
minds were intelligent and persevering. I have often 
thought Divine Providence directed Slater, and brought 
him to lay his projects before the Wilkinsons ; because He 
had not fitted any other men in this country, with minds 
and abilities, either to see, and at once comprehend the 
immense benefit of it, or to understand and perform what 
must be understood and performed to bring this scheme into 
full and perfect operation.' 1 In a word, when Samuel Slater 
arrived in this country, all the machinery in use for the 
manufacture of cotton yarn for warps, was so imperfect as to 
preclude success, and there was a»desire to import yarn from 
India, the American people being wholly indebted to and 
dependent upon Great Britain for cotton goods. 

And here we must be permitted to interrupt our" narra- 
tive by the relation of an anecdote which as completely dis- 
closes the character of Samuel Slater as it indubitably proves 



92 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 

him to have been a man of the highest moral tone. After 
hivS frames were ready for operation, he prepared the cot- 
ton and started his cards ; the cotton rolled on the top cards, 
instead of passing through the small cylinder. This was a 
great perplexity to him, and he was for several days in great 
agitation, Mrs. Oziel Wilkinson, in whose house he boarded, 
perceiving his distress, said to him: u Art thou sick, Sam- 
uel ?" To which he replied by explaining the obstacle he 
had met, and saying: " If I am frustrated in my carding 
machine, they will think me an impostor." It was not of 
his fame, but of his honor, he was thinking. 

It is perhaps as well to observe just here that up to the 
year 1817 the operations of manufactories in this country 
were confined, save in one mill in Massachusetts, to spinning 
yarn only, which was put out in webs and wove by hand- 
loom weavers. Mules for spinning filling had not then been 
introduced. From 1791 to 1805 all, or nearly all, the cot- 
ton factories erected in this country were built under the 
direction of men who had acquired their knowledge of the 
necessary machinery while in Mr. Slater's employ. In 1799 
Mr. Slater entered into company with Oziel Wilkinson, 
Timothy Greene and William Wilkinson, the two latter, as 
well as himself, having married daughters of Oziel Wilkin- 
son. They built the second mill on the east side of the 
Pawtucket river, the firm being Samuel Slater and Com- 
pany, Mr. Slater holding one half of the stock. The year 
1829 was a disastrous one to the manufacturers of Rhode 
Island. Mr. Slater felt but withstood the shock. His own 
business was perfectly within control. It had always been 
managed with great prudence, and his estate was, for those 
days, a very large one. Owing to endorsements he had 
made for friends, and which he had to meet, he suffered a 
temporary embarrassment, but paid his own paper and his 
endorsements, and retained a property gained by honest 
industry and careful attention, and which was thereafter 



HISTORY OF THK TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. !».'! 

largely increased. Mr. Slater died at Webster, Massachu- 
setts, April 20th, 1835, aged 67. 

It will be seen at once that the success of Samuel Slater 
was the result of a profound knowledge of his business ; an 
unalterable determination ; constant labor ; and the most 
scrupulous integrity. From the commencement of his career 
to its close, his whole course was distinguished by diligence, 
sagacity and uprightness. His letters to his business cor- 
respondents display shrewdness, breadth of view and a 
straight forward manliness ; those to his children, a very 
affectionate though not particularly demonstrative dispo- 
sition. Fortunate in his early opportunities, they were yet 
such as would neither have been appreciated nor improved 
by one less observing, less faithful or less persevering. Re- 
spected in life, Jiis character loses nothing, to say the least, 
in comparison with the more modern ideas of the market 
place and the counting room. In a word ; in his exactness 
of purpose ; his thoroughness in oversight ; his unwearied 
exertion, and his perfect and unswerving regard for the 
fulfilment of every obligation he assumed, he may well be 
cited as a man whose example it would be both safe and 
honorable to follow. Those who attain any excellence, said 
Dr. Johnson, uttering a truth founded upon the experience 
of mankind, commonly spend life in one common pursuit, 
for excellence is not often gained upon easier terms. He 
who spent a life in the pursuit of excellence, in that which 
of itself was most excellent, and spent it honestly and hon- 
orably, may well, by his influence, say : 

" Let none presume 
To wear an undeserved dignity. 
O, that estates, degrees and offices, 
Were not derived corruptly! and that clear honor 
Were purchased by the merit of the wearer! 
How many then should cover, that stand bare! 
How many be commanded, that command! 
How much low peasantry would then be gleaned 
From the true seed of honor! and how much honor 
Pick'd from the chaff and ruin of the times, 
To be new varnish'd!" 



94 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 

In May, 1806, the village of Slatersville was begun. The 
natural location was beautiful in the extreme. The mills are 
situated in an amphitheatre, with the river on one side, and 
some acres of meadow on the other. On a plateau is the 
village, consisting of well built houses, many of them large 
and elegant. In the centre of the village is a common, well 
planted with trees, and fronting it the Congregational 
Church, a commodious and well proportioned building. The 
fall of water is 37 feet. 1,407,414 pounds of cotton are 
manufactured annually, by means of 2G,824 spindles and G05 
looms. Six hundred hands are employed, and the annual 
product is 5,799,041 yards of sheeting, shirting, flannel and 
print goods. The population is 1,200. The value of the 
yearly product is $600,000. The First National Bank, of 
Smithfield, is located here, with a capital gf one hundred 
thousand dollars. The village library possesses one thous- 
and volumes ; no liquor is allowed to be sold in the place, 
and neatness and good order prevail. "If," said Tristam 
Buries, in Congress, "if manufacturing establishments are 
a benefit and a blessing to the Union, the name of Slater 
must ever be held in grateful remembrance by the American 
people." 

FORESTDALE. 

This thriving village is situated on the Branch river, about 
one mile below Slatersville. The first business engaged in 
here, of any. importance, was that of the manufacture of scy- 
thes, by Newton Darling, about the year 1824. Mr. Darling- 
had learned his trade of Col. Comstock Passmore, at Branch 
village. The water power cost Mr. Darling only one hun- 
dred dollars and the cost of sluice way, to be opened only 
when water ran over the dam. H. S. Mansfield afterwards 
joined Mr. Darling in the business. In 1839, Ansel Holman 
joined the firm. In 1841, Mr. Darling sold out his interest 
and the firm became Mansfield & Holman. It was afterwards 



HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 95 

Mansfield & Lamb, Estus Lamb having become a partner, 
and the firm owning the entire village. Prior to 1860 the 
annual product was 10,000 dozen of scythes; since, it has 
been about 8,000 dozen. During; the war of the rebellion 
this firm furnished the government with thirty thousand 
sabres, officially declared to be equal to any manufactured in 
the country. In 1860, the firm erected a stone cotton mill, 
which is operated by the Forestdale Manufacturing Com- 
pany. The mill is 106x08 feet, three stories high; with an 
ell 65x45 feet, of the same height, The fall is 14 feet. 
Horse power — water, 250; steam, 80. In the scythe works 
150 tons of iron are annually used; 3 tons of steel, and 100 
grindstones are employed. The Forestdale Company use 
annually 1,400 bales of cotton, run 15,000 spindles, and 300 
looms, employing 250 hands. The gross product is 2,000,- 
000 yards of cloth, valued at (1870) $300,000. The tene- 
ment houses, sixty-one in number, for both establishments, 
are two stories in height; there are two excellent boarding 
houses, and the whole place is neat, orderly and attractive. 

BRANCH VILLAGE. 

This once considerable, but now unimportant place, is situ- 
ated on the Branch river, about one mile north of Union 
Village. In the year 1795, Elisha Bartlett came here from 
Glocester, and commenced the manufacture of scythes, which 
business he continued till his death, in 1804. Afterwards 
Col. Comstock Passmore purchased the place. A small cot- 
ton mill was erected here by William Buffum and sons, Otis 
Bartlett, Comstock Passmore, and perhaps some others. It 
is now standing. The mill was operated by Col. Passmore, 
who died about the year 1825. Otis Bartlett carried on the 
scythe making business thereafter. The mill has been run 
for the manufacture of cloth or warps, at different times, and 
by various parties until nearly the present time; David Dan- 
iels, David M. Daniels, Alfred Morse, Joseph Morse, and 



1)6 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 

Einor Coe, having occupied it, but none of them with any 
permanent profit. The privilege is a good one, but the mill 
is very small, and it has followed the path of small mills. 
The privilege and land are now owned by the Blackstone 
Manufacturing Company. 

WATERFORD. 

Evans and Seagrave, and Earl P. Mason, operate one of 
the woolen mills at Waterford, formerly owned by Welcome 
Farnum. The fall of water is 10 feet; horse power — steam, 
160; water, 300. Hands employed, 400 ; looms, 58 broad, 
52 narrow ; setts of machinery, 24 ; pounds of wool used 
annually, 1,000,000; tons of coal, 1,000; gallons of oil, 
1,000. The product is 700,000 yards of fancy cassimeres. 

F. M. RALLOU 

also runs one of the Waterford mills, with 10 feet fall; 100 
horse power, water ; 160 hands ; 50 narrow looms ; 10 setts 
of machinery, and producing yearly 300,000 yards of fancy 
cassimeres. 

CHARLES R. ALDRICH, 

contractor and builder, is located at Waterford. He uses 40 
horse power, steam; employs 50 hands. 

THE WOONSOCKET GAS COMPANY 

consumes 2,300 tons of coal, and makes annually 11,131,000 
feet of gas. 

THE ENTERPRISE COMPANY. 

This company was organized in 1870, and built a mill 
upon the estate known as " The Old Maid's Farm," between 
Woonsocket and Waterford. The business is that of making 



HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 97 

lastings, serges, &c., and produces, annually, 375,000 yards. 
The officers are : 

President — John D. Nichols. 
Treasurer — Ruel P. Smith. 
Superintendent — S. N. Lougee. 

GLOBE MILLS, WOONSOCKET. 

In 1827, Thomas Arnold, Marble Shove and Thomas A. 
Paine purchased five or six acres of land, and one-fourth 
part of the flow of the Blackstone river, for which they paid 
ten thousand dollars. Two small brooks added something 
to the water power. There was a saw mill on the premises, 
but no other improvements. They built a cotton mill, a corn 
mill, " Globe " store, two dwelling houses and a barn. The 
cotton mill was 36x72 feet, three stories high and attic. 
Fall, 16' 1 feet. Two thousand spindles, fifty looms. They 
made cloth and warps. In winter of 1829-30, they sold to 
Samuel Shove, by assignee. He built one dwelling house 
and machine shop. His assignee sold, in 1834, to Thomas 
Sprague & Sons, who held until about the year 1837, when 
Vaughan and E. II. Sprague came into possession. From 
them it passed into the hands of George C. Ballon, who also 
owns and runs a steam saw mill four stories high, in which 
is also machinery for planing, mortising and sash making, 
He has also laid the foundation for a new cotton mill to be 
70x234 feet, with an ell 50x147 feet. 

THE WOONSOCKET COMPANY, 

Owning four fine mills, and originally what is now the vil- 
lage of Bernon, much of which it still retains, occupies a 
large and valuable privilege, and has done much for that 
village. In 1831, the late Samuel Greene came from Paw- 
tucket to this place, and up to within a few months of his 
decease had charge of the company's establishment, 

13 



98 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 

He was born in 1791, and his mother was daughter of 
Oziel Wilkinson. He possessed a decided taste for mechan- 
ics, and was, perhaps, more scientifically informed in the 
science of hydraulics than any other of our manufacturers. 
When Gilmore first came to Rhode Island for the purpose of 
constructing the power loom, Mr. Greene made his acquaint- 
ance, and obtained from him much valuable information. In 
L820, he, with others, formed a company under the name of 
the " Pawtucket Worsted Company." To the late Hon. N. 
R. Knight, when he was chosen Senator of the United 
States from this State, the company presented a vest of their 
own manufacture, which he wore to Washington, and which 
attracted considerable attention as being the first specimen 
of worsted goods manufactured in the United States. 

Mr. Greene represented his native town in the General 
Assembly from 1816 to 1821, inclusive. He was a consist- 
ent member of the Episcopal Church, and "St. James' 
Church," in Bernon, was aided by his counsels and his con- 
tributions. The grounds of the Woonsocket Company's 
mills are large, beautifully kept and adorned with magnifi- 
cent trees. 

The company employ in these mills 250 hands, run 288 
looms and 13,000 spindles. 

HAMLET. 

Situated half a mile below Woonsocket, is one of the 
prettiest villages on the Blackstone river. Its first proprie- 
tors were Edward H. Carrington and Stephen H. Smith. 

Edward H. Carrington was one of the best known and 
most highly accomplished merchants of Providence in his 
day. 

Stephen H. Smith was a scion of good Rhode Island stock, 
being a descendant of John Smith, the miller, of the early 
Providence records. 

In L830, the land about the Hamlet was covered with a 



HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 99 

dense growth of wood ; there was no road loading- to Woon- 
socket. The mill originally contained only 7,000 spindles. 
Tt was erected by Spencer Mowry, Esq. The best carpen- 
ters were paid $20 per month and boarded. The mill passed 
into the hands of Edward Carrington, Jr., and George S. 
Wardwell. It is now owned by Isaac M. Bull, who lias 
greatly enlarged it, and filled it with improved machinery. 
The main part is 212 feet long, by 40 in width, with an ad- 
dition 50x40 feet, and the foundation is laid for another 
addition of the same size. It is run by three turbine wheels. 
The fall is 9.5 feet; power, 325. Hands employed, 200; 
looms, 300; spindles, 15,500. Pounds of cotton used annu- 
ally, 676,000; number of yards of cloth manufactured, 
2,700,000. 

MANVILLE. 

This pleasant village is situated four miles south of Woon 
socket, on the Blackstone river, and the Manville Company 
own, but do not occupy, the entire volume of the water. 
A history of this place will show very intelligibly the his- 
tory of manufacturing operations in this State, after the 
smaller streams were left for larger privileges, and even be- 
fore the latter had become generally profitable. In 1740, 
the land on which the village is now built, on both sides of 
the river, was owned by David Wilkinson, who, in that year, 
deeded it to Samuel Wilkinson, who, in 1747, redeeded it 
to David. In 1759, David Wilkinson deeded it to Beni'a- 
min Wing of Dartmouth, Massachusetts. Wing conveyed it 
to Abner Bartlett, in 1802, in which deed the premises is 
for the first time referred to as a "water privilege," and 
mention is made of the bridge, by the name of the " Unity 
Bridge." In 1803, Bartlett sold to Luke Jillson, who con- 
veyed it, in 1805, to Samuel Hill, Jr., of Smithfield, and 
William Aldrich, of Cumberland. Samuel Hill, Jr., was 
known afterwards as Judge Hill. Hill and Aldrich deeded, 



100 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 

in 1811, to Thomas Man, Stephen Clark, George Hill, David 
Hill, Jesse Brown, George Aldrich, Otis Capron, David 
Wilkinson, Alphens Ammidon, Stephen Whipple, and Asa 
Bartlett, reserving an interest to themselves, and the gran- 
tees were styled the u Unity Manufacturing Company." 
Three years thereafter, in 1814, Aaron Man, father of Sam- 
uel F. Man, purchased the interest of Alpheus Ammidon, 
and allusion is made in the conveyance to the Unity Cotton 
factory, a grist mill, saw mill, and falling mill. In 1821, 
the Unity Manufacturing Company sold to William Jenkins 
and Samuel F. Man, all their interest in the estate. In 1831, 
Jenkins and Man conveyed one-fourth part of the estate to 
Arlon Man, brother of Samuel F., the estate having been 
considerably enlarged by purchases of adjoining land, since 
the original purchase from Wilkinson ; September 28, 1854, 
the heirs of Samuel F. Man, and William and Anna Jenkins, 
conveyed the mill estate and lands to the Valley Falls Com- 
pany. In 1863, the Valley Falls Company deeded to the 
Manville Company, then composed of Tully D. Bowen, 
Henry Lippitt, William H. Reynolds, Charles H. Merriman, 
Samuel Chace, and Harvey Chace, and the name of the con- 
cern was changed to "Manville Company." 

The proprietorship has changed somewhat since this pur- 
chase, but the name is unaltered. Tully D. Bowen has 
deceased, and others have sold out, but the great bulk of 
the interest remains in the same names as in 1863. 

The Manville Company was incorporated May, 1863. 
The stockholders now in the estate are T. D. Benson, John 
H. Taft, Anthony & Hall, H. B. Benson, Harvey Chace 
& Sons, R. Handy; Harvey Chace, President; John A. 
Taft, Treasurer and Agent. 

At an early day, a furnace was erected here, the iron ore 
of Cumberland, which is now shipped to Pennsylvania, hav- 
ing a recognized value with such men as the Wilkinsons and 
those connected in business with them. Here was cast hoi- 



HISTORY OF THE TOWN OP SMITH FIELD. 101 

low ware of the various kinds needed in domestic service. 
The saw mill, fulling' and grist mills stood where the brick 
mill now stands. There is a tradition that one of the kettles 
from the furnace being left out in the rain was filled with 
water which froze solid, and that Israel Wilkinson after the 
next day's sun had melted the ice sufficiently to allow it to 
be turned out, worked off the upper surface spherically so 
as to form an ice globe. This, by fixing an iron hoop 
around its centre so as to control it, he made into an ice sun 
glass and concentrating the rays of the sun through it into a 
focus, melted some iron wire. Israel and David Wilkinson 
were relatives of Oziel Wilkinson, of Pawtucket, and in a 
very considerable degree partook of his love for, and skill 
in, mechanical pursuits. The late Joseph Wilkinson, of 
Smithfield, was a cousin of the David Wilkinson, of Paw- 
tucket, who invented the slide lathe. Joseph Wilkinson 
was a man of quick intellect and sound judgment. He 
would never engage in any manufacturing business, saying 
that where a difference of a quarter of a cent a yard in cloth 
would make or ruin a man, his capital should not be risked. 
He created the Hamlet meadows out of the original swamp, 
and arid sand. He also directed the reclamation of the land, 
afterwards the Manville meadows, and which Samuel F. Man, 
in his day took a great deal of pride in keeping up to the 
extreme point of fertility, which could only be done by care- 
ful irrigation. 

The " Mott Dam," now a thing of the past, it having been 
flowed out by and for the benefit of the Manville Company, 
was the subject of an eleven years' law suit between Joseph 
Wilkinson, and Jenkins and Man. It was situated about one 
mile below the Hamlet village, and wa.s nearly five feet high. 
John Whipple and Richard W. Greene were of counsel in 
the case, Whipple being for the complainant, Wilkinson, 
who owned the adjoining land, and Greene for Jenkins and 
Man. Afterwards Thomas A. Jenckes came into the case 



102 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 

with Judge Greene and Thomas Steere as counsel for Wil- 
kinson, and after the usual fortunes of a case, where both 
parties were pertinacious and all the counsel able, with judg- 
ment for the plaintiff in the Common Pleas, a reversal by the 
Supreme Court, a new trial and much expense and trouble, 
the case was finally settled by junior counsel on both sides, 
one at least of them never having been forgiven hy his client 
for doing him that good service. Samuel F. Man died in 
IS 47, Joseph Wilkinson in 1851 ; they were neighbors for 
years, and although opposing litigants, were quite capable 
each of appreciating the abilities of the other. The Black- 
stone flows without a ripple over " Mott Dam," and the in- 
tellectual vigor and varied information of Samuel F. Man, 
and the keen perceptions and cool understanding of Joseph 
Wilkinson, are only occasionally brought to mind in that lo- 
cality where once they swayed an influence respected and 
acknowledged. 

Thomas Mann was one of the first settlers of Smithfield, 
was Judge of the Court of Common Pleas, under the old 
system, and Town Clerk of the town of Smithfield, for many 
years. He was first chosen clerk in June, 1817. He was 
succeeded in June, 1840, by the late Gen. George L. Barnes. 
Stafford Mann, son of the Judge, was Town Clerk from 1850 
to 1855, and was then succeeded by the present Clerk, Sam- 
uel Clark. 

Stephen Clark, father of Samuel, and son of Samuel, oc- 
cupied, as did his father, the estate now owned and occupied 
by the present Town Clerk of Smithfield. The great-grand- 
father of the present owner of this fine estate, was concern- 
ed in Shay's rebellion, and the grandfather, as a boy, came 
first to Glocester, and afterwards to Smithfield, where he 
was President of the Town Council in 1798. Stephen Clark 
was a member of the General Assembly in 1839, and a 
prominent man in his town. 

George and Daniel Hill were land owners near Manville, 



HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITH FIELD. 103 

and Jesse Brown, a proprietor in Cumberland. David Wil- 
kinson owned a farm about a mile from Manville, and was 

one of the lv solid men ' of the town. The enterprise evi- 
dently did not meet the anticipations of the projectors, al 
though the losses, if any, were not such as to embarrass men 
of their means. 

The first mill was built at Manville in 1812. It is four 
stories in height, counting the attic, 100x32, shingled on the 
sides, and is being renewed and promises to last for years to 
come. The present mill was built in 1826, of brick, and 
was originally 139x42, five stories high. In 185!), thirty-two 
feet were added to its length, and in 1862, forty-five feet 
more, making it now 216x42, with an ell, added in 1859, 
80x44. At the same time turbine wheels were put in, so 
that there are now six stories filled with machinery. The 
entire machinery has been changed since 1847, and under 
the superintendence of Mr. Russell Handy, who lias been, 
with a short intermission, thirty years about the mill, every- 
thing presents a neat and improving aspect. By purchases 
of real estate, and improved machinery, with other outlays, 
the value of the Manville property has been doubled since 
1866. The new dam, built year before last, is one of the 
best, if not the very finest on the river. It is constructed 
of large hewn granite ; is 246 feet long; 13 feet in width at 
the bottom, 8 feet on top, with cap ; 18 feet in height on the 
average, and rests upon solid rock its entire length. In 
some places it is 24 feet in height, and composed of stones 
10 to 14 feet in length, and 2 feet square. It was com- 
menced August 15th, 1868, and finished in three months and 
one day. It cost, say $32,000. The foundation for a new 
mill, 350x76, with an ell 76x36, is finished. It is of the 
most solid description. It is built of hewn granite, the 
stones being from 6 to 8 feet in length and 18 inch face by 
12 inches in depth. It cost some $62,000. The work re- 
cently done on the trenches, bulkheads, &c, has cos! $20,- 



104 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHF1ELD. 

000 more. The fall of water is 19 feet, and the volume 
sufficient to drive both mills, or rather the three mills, as the 
old wooden structure before mentioned is to have new ma- 
chinery. Three hundred hands are now employed, and the 
horse power, 250. The entire power is 900. The looms in 
use, 348 ; spindles, 20,000 ; and about four hundred tons of 
coal are used to heat the mill. One hundred additional 
looms and 4,000 spindles are to be placed in the present and 
old wooden mills. The mill to be erected on the new found- 
ation is calculated for 45,000 spindles. The goods made 
here now are fine lawns for printing, these having taken the 
place of fine shirtings, which were equal in quality to the 
goods of the New York Mills. A thousand acres of land 
give the Manville Company "ample room and verge 
enough ' for agricultural pursuits ; and they have on their 
premises some of the finest building sites in the State. The 
village, which lies on the Smithfield side of the river, is well 
built on wide streets, shaded with beautiful maple and elm 
trees. It is perfectly kept and evinces the results of careful 
oversight. The Company is fitting up a large two-story 
store, and making preparations for slaughtering cattle, so as 
to provide plentifully and cheaply for the wants of their op- 
eratives. 

For the purposes of a school house and a large hall, there 
is a line two-story building, and we have rarely seen better 
furnished rooms than the primary and intermediate school 
rooms present. Leading up to this building and the church 
which stands beside it is a wide and pleasant avenue having 
noble trees on either side. Episcopal services are conducted 
in the church regularly, and the edifice, which will seat three 
hundred persons, has been cushioned, carpeted and hand- 
somely painted by the Company. There is a good organ, 
and the " dim religious light " which streams in at the win- 
dows is in perfect keeping with the atmosphere of the vil- 
lage. No where is to be found a more quiet and thorough- 



HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 105 

ly orderly community. The late Samuel F. Man was a strict 
disciplinarian, and lie laid out Manville regularly, and main- 
tained in it, during his life, a sober and industrious popula- 
tion. The present proprietors act upon the assumption that 
wealth has its duties, as well as its power and privileges, and 
they are not only improving the looks and capacity of their 
establishment, but they have regard to tin 1 welfare of their 
operatives. No liquor is sold in the village, and persons em- 
ployed must conform to the proprieties and outward morali- 
ties of life- Mr. Handy and the Treasurer, John A. Taft, 
Esq., make it evident, by every word and act, that they feel 
the responsibility which, whether acknowledged or not, 
presses upon all who have the direction of large numbers of 
individuals. 

The population of Manville is about 1,000; there are 100 
scholars in the Sabbath school ; and the district school is well 
attended. As a proof of the advance made in the character 
of their manufactures, it suffices to state, that in 1866 the 
numbers of the yarn spun were from 30 to 35 while now 
they are from 65 to 80. This place was for many years the 
residence of Hon. Bradbury C. Hill, late Senator from Smith- 
field in the General Assembly, and here he laid the founda- 
tion of his fortune, working sixteen hours a day, honest la- 
bor. When that question, which caused so wide a difference 
of opinion, and in many cases worked so great an alienation 
of feeling between the Law and Order men, — whether Don- 
should or should not be liberated — came to agitate the 
State, Mr. Man and Mr. Hill were found on opposite sides. 
Mr. Man went with Charles Jackson for liberation ; Mr. Hill 
could see neither its necessity nor justice. He had sympa- 
thized with the spirit and been electrified and strengthened 
by the eloquence of " Old Narragansett," and he could not 
change his convictions so readily as some other men, equally 
able and equally honest. He had been in the Legislature, 
and had received a renomination, but Samuel F. Man, in 

14 



106 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 

whose employ he then was, and for many years had been, 
told him squarely that he should be defeated, notwithstand- 
ing his nomination, unless he would pledge himself to vote 
for liberation ; this he would not do, and he was defeated. 
Without acceding to the judgment of Mr. Hill, it is, at this 
day, at least, refreshing to recall the political firmness of 
one, who even at the loss of office, carried out his own views 
of individual duty. 

ALBION. 

Samuel Clarke, who died in the year 1817, owned the 
Albion privilege, together with a large tract of land on the 
Smithfield side of the Blackstone river; and this property 
descended by will to his two sons, Samuel and Mo wry 
Clarke. Samuel sold his interest in the same very soon to 
Mowry, who in 1822 deeded it to Samuel Hill. Jr., ot Smith- 
field, and Abraham Wilkinson, of North Providence, who 
were the first to improve the water power, they having pur- 
chased land on the Cumberland side of the river, of Jotham 
Carpenter. (For several years the place was called Monti- 
cello.) In 1822, Hill and Wilkinson having no more than 
commenced operations by building a dam, Wilkinson sold to 
Hill his interest in the fifty-three acres of land then compris- 
ing the estate, and the water power bounding on the Paw- 
tucket river, for the consideration of fifteen hundred dollars. 
March 22d, 1822, Samuel Hill sold to Joseph Harris, Pre- 
served Arnold, Daniel G. Harris and William Harris, Abra- 
ham and Isaac Wilkinson, nine undivided tenth parts of this 
estate. In March, 1823, Mr. Hill sold to the last named par- 
ties his remaining tenth part, leaving the entire fee in them. 
This company erected in 1823 the old stone mill, about 
50x100, four stories high, which is still in operation, and 
which contained 108 looms. In 1830, the interest of Abra- 
ham and Isaac Wilkinson and Samuel B. Harris, who had in 
the meantime become part owner, was sold at Sheriff's sale 



HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 107 

by Mark Aldrich, Deputy Sheriff, at the suit of the Lime 
Rock Bank, George Wilkinson, son of Abraham, being the 
purchaser, the privilege at this time being known as Albion. 
George Wilkinson, in 1833, the Harrises and Preserved Ar- 
nold having disposed theretofore of their interest, for the 
sum of ninety thousand dollars, sold to Horace Waldo, Fran- 
cis Waldo and George Trott, Jr., of the city of New York, 
two undivided thirds of the Albion estate. The Waldos 
and Trott sold in 1834, to William and Christopher Rhodes, 
Orray Taft, Thomas Truesdell and Robert Rhodes, who 
owned the entire estate, the title to which we have traced 
in a general and not detailed way. 

Afterwards Orray Taft sold his interest to William A. 
Howard, of Providence, and Thomas Truesdell his, to 
Robert Rhodes. In the year 1864, William A. Howard 
deeded his interest to Harvey and Samuel B. Chace. Dur- 
ing the few years previous to 1854, Gen. Libbeus Tourtellot, 
now of Woonsocket, was superintendent, and made very 
material improvements in the place, adding not only to the 
value but to the beauty of the village. 

In 1854, Harvey and Samuel B. Chace purchased three- 
eighths of this estate, and in the year 1856, the Albion Com- 
pany was incorporated by act of the General Assembly. 
Afterwards, Robert Rhodes disposed of his interest to H. 
and S. B. Chace, and Samuel B. Chace of his to Harvey 
Chace, who transferred to the Albion Company, which then 
first organized under the charter. 

In 1832, a wooden mill was erected near where the station 
of the Providence and Worcester railroad now stands, 
35x60, which was burned in 1837. Another wooden mill 
had also been built in 1830, by George Wilkinson, called 
the Green mill, about 40x120, which has recently been dis- 
mantled. As before stated, the original stone mill is still in 
operation, and on the north is now joined by a new picker 
and carding room, built of brick, two stories high, one 



108 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 

hundred feet in length, while on the south is the new mill, 
built of brick, 120x52, with the foundations laid, and wheel 
in for an additional hundred feet. This new mill is six 
stories in height, most thoroughly constructed, and has a 
large and commodious tower, which will be in the centre of 
the building when completed as planned. The entire mill 
will be, in round numbers, four hundred feet' in length 
when finished. There is also a cloth room and office, con- 
structed of brick, two stories high, 40x60 ; a blacksmith and 
machine shop two stories in height, brick, and in the upper 
story of which weaving is performed ; a saw mill 80x25 ; 
a two story stone store house ; and one half of the Green mill, 
55x40, to be used as a store house, the other half having 
been transformed into an imposing tenement house. A new 
modern dam was erected in 1854. 

As is the case with many, if not most of our manufactur- 
ing villages, Albion presents to the traveller by rail its least 
attractive aspect, Ineeed the village is hardly to be seen 
from the cars. In reality the eighty tenements are mostly 
situated on a high bluff overlooking the river, and are very 
pleasantly and even picturesquely placed. Nor is this all. 
Standing on the platform in front of the station, and looking 
north, there is as pretty a landscape as is to be found on the 
river. At the right, looking across the dam, is a bit of 
scenery which is unique and perfect. The river is placid ; 
the water splashes over the dam with a joyous beauty ; the 
rugged rocks rise rough and abruptly on the thither shore; 
the graceful birches are reflected in the water below, and 
the light and cheerful green of the springing foliage con- 
trasts charmingly with the dark gray of the granite ; while 
taking in a wider sweep, the river winds gracefully between 
the hills on either side, which, by their curvature, seem to 
mingle not far off in one mass of bright and living verdure. 
In the early spring-time, and when the autumn rains begin, 
Muzzy brook, which once turned the wheel of Oziel Wilkin- 



HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 109 

son's forge, leaps in a succession of cascades from the meadow 
above to the river below ; and, like one of Ruggles's gems, 
is, in its own way, wholly unapproachable. It is infinitely 
more lovely than the celebrated falls of Inversnaid, on Loch 
Lomond, about which so many pretty and poetical things 
have been said and sung. 

In 1856, the Manville Company and the Albion Company 
gave the land, and built a road between Manville and Albion, 
along the river side. In 1868, as a continuation thereof, 
Messrs. Harvey and Samuel B. Chace constructed a bridge 
across the Blackstone at Albion, and a road of a mile in 
length to the Cumberland Hill road, to Providence. The 
entire length of the road is some three miles, which together 
with the bridge cost, aside from the land, not less than 
ten thousand dollars, and which the towns of Smithfield and 
Cumberland accepted as a public highway, paying in all to 
the builders, three thousand dollars. 

The fall of water at Albion is fourteen feet ; the power in 
use — water — three hundred and eighty horse power; the 
power available is something like eight hundred horse 
power. There are four hundred looms, and from 18 to 20,- 
000 spindles in operation, there being power provided for 
twenty-five thousand spindles. Two hundred and eighty- 
five hands are employed ; four hundred tons of coal used per 
annum ; and four million yards of print cloth produced an- 
nually. 

David Alexander is the efficient superintendent of this 
concern. 

LONSDALE. 

This place, owned by the Lonsdale Company, situated 
seven miles from Providence, on the Blackstone river, was 
commenced as a manufacturing village in 1829, and the first 
mill was started in 1832, the second mill in the same year. 



110 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 

The bleaching department was put in operation in 1844. 
About ninety thousand yards of cloth are put in process of 
bleaching per day. These three mills contain 860 looms, 
41,000 spindles, and the fall of water is 22 feet. The horse 
power is: water, 550; engine in bleachery, 180 ; engine 
supplementary to water power in summer, 250. Three 
thousand tons of coal are consumed annually at the bleach- 
ery ; two thousand at the mills ; one thousand at the gas 
works. The number of hands employed is 850, and 3,200 
bales of cotton, averaging 275 pounds each, are used each 
year. The product is five and one half million yards of fine 
sheetings and other goods. The girls in the finishing rooms 
of the fine goods, such as silesias, earn from seven to twelve 
dollars per week. 

The population of the village is about sixteen hundred. 
A fine brick school house, large enough for the several de- 
partments of the public school, has been erected by the 
company, and the rent is given to the district. A new brick 
\>uilding, 62x111, is building for library and other pur- 
poses. The superintendent, Edward Kilburn, has had 
supervision over the establishments since 1847. Of the new 
mill and new village, as they are in Cumberland, we make 
no special mention. 

VALLEY FALLS. 

In April, of the year 1812, Joseph Jenks, of Smithfield, 
for the sum of $2,500, sold to Abraham, Isaac and David 
Wilkinson, sixteen acres of land, including the water privi- 
lege at Valley Falls, and gave a right of way through his 
land to Central Falls. In November of the same year, 
David Wilkinson sold his interest to Abraham and Isaac. 
The latter constructed the turnpike from Pawtucket to Lons- 
dale, at the old oak which stands in the centre of the road 
leading west to the village of Lonsdale. Isaac Wilkinson 
was an excellent mechanic, and at the age of seventeen had 



HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. Ill 

charge of the Cupola, now Franklin Foundry, in Providence. 
During the war of 1812, he cast cannon sixty days in suc- 
cession, two heats per day. Abraham and Isaac Wilkinson 
built, about the year 1820, a stone mill, which has recently 
been demolished. In 1830, Henry Marchant purchased one- 
fourth part of the privilege. William Harris owned one- 
twelfth, and Crawford Allen the remainder. William Harris 
built, about 1820, a mill which was burned in 1830. In 
1833, Crawford Allen erected the stone mill on the Cumber- 
land side of the river. This mill, as originally built, was 
44x112, and four stories in height. To it was added, by 
the Valley Falls Company, in 1868, an addition, of brick, 
two stories, 40x90 ; one, also of brick, 40x90, three stories, 
and a picker house, of stone, two stories, 54x40. 

On the Smithfield side a wooden mill, 125x44, four stories, 
was erected in 1844, and a brick mill, four stories, 156x44, 
in 1849. These mills are now run by turbine wheels, four 
doing the work of eleven breast wheels. The first self-act- 
ing mules, operated on the Blackstone river, were started at 
Valley Falls. When the Messrs. Chace applied to Brown & 
Pitcher, Pawtucket, to build them, Mr. Pitcher refused to 
have anything to do about it ; afterwards, Mr. James Brown 
built them. In 1868, this privilege became the property of 
Samuel B. Chace, and thereafter of the Valley Falls Com- 
pany, of which Mr. Chace is the principal member. Since 
that year, improvements have been made on a large scale 
about the mills, and to a considerable extent in the village, 
mainly owned by the company, and containing a population 
of something like two thousand inhabitants. In the year 
1852-3, the Messrs. Chace constructed a stone dam of the 
most substantial kind ; although not so high as that at Man- 
ville, it is one of the finest and perhaps the handsomest dam 
on the river, it being built upon a curve, of hewn stone, 
with abutments which are remarkable for their solidity. 

Broad street is a quiet, pleasant street, upon which are 



112 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 

numerous charming residences, with ample grounds, fine 
trees and shrubbery, and an air of neatness and elegance 
which speaks well for their owners. That of Mr. Samuel B. 
Chace is the largest and most modern, and is surrounded by 
flower gardens and all the insignia of refined taste. On the 
opposite side of the street is a vacant lot laid down in a 
beautiful lawn, giving what so many seem indifferent to, 
but which is so important, an attractive prospect from the 
front windows of the dwelling. Other places are rich in 
grass and trees and ample space and that air of re- 
tirement, which is so grateful to the busy or the cultivated 
man. 

The fall is, on the Cumberland side of the river, eleven 
feet seven inches, and on the Smithfield side fourteen feet, 
the gain on the Smithfield side being made by the increased 
length in the trench. The horse power — water — is 400; 
350 hands are employed; 750 looms run, and 35,000 
spindles. 

Valley Falls, in Smithfield, is surpassed by no village in 
the State in its efforts in behalf of temperance. Not only 
are there frequent lectures upon the subject, but the influence 
of the Company and its managers is persistently exercised 
in favor of sobriety. For many years no place has been let 
by the Messrs. Chace, as none is now, for the sale of intoxi- 
cating liquors, nor is any such sale permitted on any 
premises owned by the Company. 

CENTRAL FALLS. 

We doubt if there is anywhere a more distinctive and 
noteworthy manufacturing village than Central Falls; one 
where within the same area of territory there are so many 
mechanics and operatives who own the houses in which they 
live. No one conversant with this place can have failed to 
notice the great number of small but comfortable houses, 



HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 113 

each with a small garden plat, which distinguishes this 
thriving village. It bears evident marks of thrift, comfort 
and independence. There have been indeed, within the 
few years last past, some large establishments erected, and 
those employed in these, like the great majority of operatives 
in manufacturing establishments, do not own premises of 
their own; but there are yet a great number of well-to-do 
persons, neither possessed of riches, nor dependent upon 
boarding houses, who form a population industrious, prudent 
and substantial. The business is varied; large capital is 
employed ; the streets are well graded and curbed ; and ac- 
tivity and public spirit prevail. 

The first intimation we have of the use of the water of the 
Blackstone river at Central Falls was that Benjamin Jenks 
erected a snuff mill near the dividing line between the 
towns of Smithfield and North Providence, and got his 
power by extending a trench by the side of the river up 
stream, into the river, which was the usual way of utilizing 
the water of the Blackstone. At what time this business 
was abandoned is uncertain. 

The next intimation we have is that Stephen Jenks 
(great-grandfather of the present Stephen A. and Alvin F. 
Jenks), bought, in 1763, of Gideon Jenks and Ezekiel Carpen- 
ter, three-fourths of an acre, on which was built the trip- 
hammer and blacksmith shop, which was afterwards known 
as the blacksmith shop lot, and is now owned by the mill 
owners of Central Falls. Whether Stephen Jenks utilized 
the water of the Blackstone previous to the erection of the 
dam by Charles Keene, in 1780, is not known. Captain 
James S. Brown thinks there was no use of the water pre- 
vious to the building of Keene's dam, in 1780. 

In 1777 William Jenks, of Wrentham, Mass., sold a lot of 
land, comprising some ten acres, located near the old dam 
at Central Falls, to Benjamin Cozzens, of Providence 
(clothier), who had a fulling mill at Pawtucket Falls, which 



114 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 

was carried away in the great freshet of 1807. Benjamin 
Cozzens was the father of Benjamin Cozzens, the lawyer, of 
Providence, whose daughter is the wife of Abraham Payne, 
Esq., of Providence. This purchase from William Jenks 
was evidently made for the purpose of using the water 
power for his business. 

In 1780 Benjamin Cozzens sold to Charles Keene that 
portion of this estate purchased of William Jenks as now 
includes the Stafford Manufacturing Company's mill estate, 
stone house and blacksmith shop lot, Chocolate Mill lot and 
the dam lot, so called. 

Charles Keene built the first dam across the river at Cen- 
tral Falls, and perhaps the first dam across the Blackstone 
anywhere. The dam was built for Mr. Keene by Sylvanus 
Brown, father of Capt. James S. Brown, of Pawtucket. 
Keene erected a building for the manufacture of scythes 
and other edge tools, and was called an edge tool manufac- 
turer. A part of the building was occupied by a man 
named Wheat, for the manufacture of chocolate, which 
gave the name of Chocolate Mills to the village, and it re- 
tained that name down to 1824. 

In 1784 Keene sold one-third of the estate to Levi Plall, 
merchant, of Providence. At this time (1784), Keene & 
Hall owned the whole water power at Central Falls, al- 
though there are intimations in the deed from Gideon Jenks 
and Ezekiel Carpenter to Stephen Jenks of the three-fourths 
acre lot, and also in the deed of Cozzens to Keene, reservino- 
one-third of three-fourths of an acre, but as has been said 
before, it is not found that any water power was used pre- 
vious to 1780 and before the building of Keene's dam. 

In 1796 Anna Keene, widow of Charles, sold to Stephen 
Jenks, Stephen Jenks, Jr., and Moses Jenks, two-thirds of 
the Keene & Hall estate, and in 1806, Sarah Hall, widow 
of Levi Hall, sold to Stephen Jenks one third of the Keene 
& Hall lot, On the three-fourths acre lot, by Jenks in 1763, 



HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 1 L5 

afterwards known as the blacksmith shop lot, was built the 
trip hammer and blacksmith shop, in which were manufac- 
tured iron ship bolls and other ship work, the ship anchors 
being made by Stephen Jenks and Oziel Wilkinson, of Paw- 
tucket, 

The water power, in 1806, was principally owned by 
Stephen Jenks, including the blacksmith shop lot and the 
Keene estate. The Keene building, called the Chocolate 
Mill, was, in 1807 or 1808, owned and occupied by the 
Smithfield Manufacturing Company, and used for the manu- 
facture of cotton yarns. In this mill, about 1812, and after, 
were employed Anthony, Eliza, Alexander, Isaiah and Rich- 
ard B. Gage and others. Their office and place of putting 
up their yarns was in Pawtucket, Mass., near where the Con- 
gregational Church now stands. It is said the Company, 
with their small amount of machinery — 400 spindles, — suf- 
fered more from the lack of water than 40,000 spindles do 
now. 

In 1811 Stephen Jenks made a contract with the United 
States Government to manufacture 10,000 muskets for 
$11.50 apiece. He erected a building to finish the guns in, 
part of which was afterwards used by Stephen Jenks & Sons 
for a machine shop, and the balance for the manufacture of 
cotton cloth. This building was burned in January, 1829, 
and was on the site of what was afterwards the Duck Mill, 
built by Lemuel H. Arnold and Palemon Walcott, for the 
manufacture of cotton duck. 

In 1832 Charles Moies and George F. Jenks bought the 
Duck Mill estate, and the mill was occupied by Moies, In- 
graham & Co., for the manufacture of cotton thread, the firm 
consisting of Charles Moies, H. N. Ingraham, Benjamin F. 
Greene and Samuel Saunders. The lot on which the mill 
stood was sold, many years afterwards, to Rufus Stafford, 
and is now part of the Stafford Manufacturing Company's 
estate. 



116 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 

Iii 1823 the owners of the water power at Central Falls 
had their property platted and divided into separate water 
privileges, numbered from one to six inclusive, which were 
apportioned among the owners according to their ownership, 
which appears on the records of the town of Smithfield. 
Each privilege was to have an aperture in the side of the 
trench six feet long and two feet below the top of the dam, 
making the aggregate length of the apertures thirty-six feet 
and two feet deep below the top of the dam, which, it was 
considered, would be the full capacity of the river at that 
time. The apertures have since been increased to one hun- 
dred and fifty- six feet in length and sixteen inches deep. 

Lot and privilege No. 1 was bought by John Kennedy, 
and a brick mill erected for the manufacture of cotton cloth 
in 1825. It afterwards went into the hands of Wm. Jenkins, 
of Providence, from him to John Gardner and others, and 
from them to Rufus Stafford and others, and now belongs to 
the Stafford Manufacturing Company. 

In 1824 a mill was built upon privilege No. 2 by David 
and George Jenks. Upon the completion of this the mill 
and the Central Falls bridge were dedicated. There was 
a foot-bridge built previous to this time. It was a gala 
day for the village. The meeting was held in one of the 
rooms of the mill, and attended by nearly all the inhabitants 
of the village, men, women and children, and a large number 
from Pawtucket, where some of the principal owners of the 
village resided. James C. Starkweather, of Pawtucket, was 
the orator of the day. After speeches were made and toasts 
drank, Stephen Jenks arose from his seat and proclaimed 
that the village should be named Central Falls, which was 
received with clapping of hands, stamping of feet and swing- 
ing of hats and bonnets. The meeting held until 12 o'clock 
;il night. It was a moonlight night, and at that hour the cit- 
izens of Pawtucket who had attended the meeting, were seen 
wending their way over Central Hill towards Pawtucket, 



HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 117 

some on their feet and others in the roughest part of the 
way on their hands and knees. There is no record that they 
did not all arrive safely home the next morning. There 
were anxious enquiries made by their wives during the 
night, however, for their absent husbands in Pawtuc'ket. 

The low^er story of this mill was occupied by Simmons 
L. Hale and William Havens for the manufacture of cotton 
threads, and afterwards by Uriah Benedict and George F. 
Jenks for the manufacture of threads. The balance of the 
mill was occupied by the owners for the manufacture of cot- 
ton cloth. Afterwards the mill estate was divided by the 
Court — one-half to Andrew Jenks, son of George, and the 
other half to the representatives of David Jenks. H. N. 
Rogers and James Dennis bought the David Jenks part, 
which they have since sold to the Stafford Manufacturing 
Company, and is now a part of their estate. The other part 
of the estate is still owned by Andrew Jenks. 

Privilege No. 3 was bought by the Pawtucket Thread 
Manufacturing Company, consisting of Jabal Ingraham, Bos- 
worth Walker, William Allen and Uriah Benedict. The 
present stone mill was built by them in 1825. The lower 
story was occupied by Fields & Jacobs for the manufacture 
of machinery, the two upper stories by D wight Ingraham 
for the manufacture of cotton cloth, and the balance of the 
mill by the Company for the manufacture of threads. The 
estate is now owned, three-fourths by the heirs of Stephen 
Benedict, and one-fourth by the heirs of Bosworth Walker. 

The north half of privilege No. 4 was bought by Stephen 
Benedict and Joseph Wood, on which they built a wooden 
mill, in 1840, for the manufacture of cotton cloth, and is now 
owned by the estate of Stephen Benedict, and at present 
leased by the firm of Thurber, Horton & Wood. 

The south half of No. 4 and the north half of No. 5 priv- 
ileges were bought by Alvin Jenks and David G. Fales, on 
which they built a wooden mill in 1835. The lower story 



118 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 

was occupied by them for the manufacture of machinery, and 
the other part of the mill was let to parties for the manufac- 
ture of cotton goods. The estate was sold by them to Phet- 
teplace & Seagraves, on which they have built a large brick 
mill for the manufacture of woolen goods, and now known 
as the Central Falls Woolen Mill. 

The south half of No. 5 privilege was bought by Charles 
Moies, John Moies and George F. Jenks, and in 1839 they 
built a wooden mill, a part of which was occupied by them- 
selves for the manufacture of cotton cloth, a part by H. N. 
lngraham for the manufacture of print cloths, and the base- 
ment by David Martin for the manufacture of spools and 
bobbins. Afterwards it was occupied by Greene & Daniels 
for twenty years in the manufacture of cotton thread and 
yarn, and has since been sold to the Pawtucket Hair Cloth 
Company, who now own it. 

Privilege No. 6 was owned by Stephen Jenks. In 1826 
he purchased the meeting house of the Universalist Society 
of Attleboro', Mass., removed it to this privilege, and in 1827 
converted it into a mill for the manufacture of cotton cloth. 
This mill, in 1830, was sold by his assignee to Jas. F. Sim- 
mons, Lemuel H. Arnold and Kuel Richards, who made large 
additions to it. The lower story was occupied by Fales & 
Jenks for the manufacture of machinery, and the balance of 
the mill by the owners for the manufacture of cotton cloth. 
In 1837 Arnold sold to Charles Moies his part of the estate. In 
1846 the whole estate was sold to Joseph and Samuel Wood, 
and upon the death of Samuel Wood was bought by Joseph 
Wood and John A. Adams, and by them sold to the Paw- 
tucket Hair Cloth Company, who now own the estate. The 
old mill building was sold to Weatherhead & Thompson, and 
by them moved south several hundred feet, where it now 
stands. It is at present used by them as a tannery, for the 
manufacture of leather belting, etc. 



HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 11 ( J 



THOMAS 1). KIOE & COMPANY, 



manufacturers of wooden jewelry, curtain fixtures, chairs, 
and of every variety of goods turned in wood. This is the 
only concern in the country where wooden jewelry is made. 
At first blush, one would hardly suppose that an article of 
this kind would appeal very strongly to an esthetic taste, or 
meet with a large demand. But a little reflection suffices to 
recall the fact that those who cannot afford diamonds, nor 
coral, nor gold, nor yet shell ornaments, are still as fond as 
the rich of whatever is convenient, graceful and fashionable. 
The belles and beaux of the rural districts ; the young men 
and ruddy maidens of the villages, who are compelled to 
economy in expenditure for personal adornments, imitate as 
far and as nearly as they can those more favored with this 
world's goods, and display quite as insatiable a desire for ex- 
ternal embellishments. And in regard to the articles under 
consideration, as in respect to much more showy and costly 
trinkets, it may be said in the language of the poet, that 
"things are not what they seem." Many an apparent dia- 
mond, which to the uninitiated eye appears a gem of purest 
ray serene, is nothing but paste ; many a pretended pearl, is 
but glass ; and many a chain of ostensible gold, in lengthen- 
ed links of glittering metal, long drawn out, is simply brass 
within, and a film of gold without. And so we shall rightly 
expect that our sylvan jewelry will betray no glimpse of 
wood. . 

Of course the work is done by machinery. Five thous- 
and sleeve buttons are turned out in a day, and breast pins 
and other articles in like proportion. These are then enam- 
eled ; some in gay single colors ; some in variegated hues ; 
and some in black. These latter are a useful and tasteful ar- 
ticle for every day wear as sleeve or dress buttons ; neat, un- 
obtrusive and admirably adapted to sedate attire. Nor 
should we forget to mention the cheap and handsome rosa- 



120 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 

ries upon which the unlettered Catholic may tell her prayers, 
with as true a devotion and as spiritual a fervor as animates 
her educated sister in perusing the illuminated page of her 
gold-clasped missal. 

This concern has been in operation only one year, and yet 
its orders for children's chairs range from one to five thous- 
and, and for certain kinds of jewelry from one gross to two 
barrels. It uses five horse power of water, and, in dry sea- 
sons, a ten horse power engine, and employs five hands. It 
is certainly a curiosity' and exhibits most conspicuously Yan- 
kee ingenuity and Yankee enterprise. 

In 1830 David G. Fales and Alvin Jenks formed a co- 
partnership for the manufacture of cotton machinery, and 
commenced business in this place in a hired shop. Their 
first piece of work was a spooler, made for a firm in Rich- 
mond, Virginia, for which they received $60. In 1833 they 
purchased the right to manufacture in Rhode Island Hub- 
bard's Patent Rotary Pump. The first ring spinning frames 
were made by this firm in 1845 ; the first ring twisters, 
being among the first of these machines built in this country, 
for thread, worsted and silk, were made by them, in 1846, 
for Benjamin Greene. Several years since, Fales, Jenks & 
Sons made for and sent to J. & P. Coats, the celebrated 
manufacturers of "Coats" sewing thread, at Paisley, Scot- 
land, nine twisters, dressers and winders. In 1859-60 they 
built a furnace for castings, and in 1861 enlarged their 
operations very considerably. In 1862-3 they erected a 
brick shop, three stories high, 300x63, with an ell 70x60, 
which was afterwards sold to the American Linen Com- 
pany. In 1866 they removed their works to Pawtucket, 
whither we follow them only to say that they still added to 
the variety and importance of their business. 



HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 121 

WEATHERHEAD, THOMPSON & CO., 

Manufacture oak tanned leather belting, and patent lace and 
picker leather. They commenced business in 1858, in a 
couple of building's aggregating 70x20 feet. Their first 
year's sales amounted to twenty thousand dollars. This 
year (1870), they received the diploma of the Rhode Island 
Society for the Encouragement of Domestic Industry, and 
their annual sales amount to $200,000. They occupy a 
building 110x40, built of wood, five stories high; one lOOx 
28 feet; one of brick, 70x30 feet, two stories in height; use 
an engine of 70 horse power, and employ 35 hands. They 
also manufacture all kinds of spools for silk and cotton thread, 
employing in this department 15 hands. 

M. B. ARNOLD & CO., 

Manufacturers of plain and fancy confectionery, occupy a 
building 67x30 feet, built of wood, two and a half stories 
high. They employ sixteen hands, keep two double teams 
constantly on the road, and their annual sales amount to 
nearly one hundred thousand dollars. 

PAWTUCKET HAIR CLOTH COMPANY. 

This concern has grown out of the persevering efforts of 
a few individuals to establish a novel and difficult industry. 
In the last completed edition of the Encyclopaedia Britan- 
nica it is stated that: "In the manufacture of hair cloth, 
either plain or damasked, the weaver uses a sort of hook 
shuttle, which he passes between the threads of the warp 
or shed, towards his left hand ; the assistant, or server, 
places a single hair over the hook, and the weaver draws it 
through the warp. The placing of the hairs one by one 
renders this a tedious operation, and one that does not 
admit of the application of machinery, which is so advan- 

16 



122 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 

tageously employed in fabrics where the shot or weft con- 
sists of a continuous thread." 

And this statement is in accordance with the present 
state of manufacture abroad. There, two hands are required 
for each loom, and these looms are of the most cumbrous 
character, resembling the old fashioned hand looms, which, 
in the last century, were to be found in almost every New 
England farmer's household. 

So novel an industry is entitled to a brief space. To 
begin at the beginning. The hair used is that of horses' 
tails, and is imported from South America and Russia, mostly 
from the latter country. It is purchased at the great 
annual fairs of Isbilt and Nijni Nooyorod. That purchased 
in June at the latter place will be received in about sixty 
days ; and that bought at Isbilt, in February, in about six 
months. As it comes in various colors, it is, for the pur- 
poses of this concern, all dyed black. A certain proportion, 
however, is purchased in England and France, already pre- 
pared for the loom. It is worth from fifty cents to four 
dollars per pound, according to length, the price increasing 
in rapid ratio after the length attains twenty-four inches. 

The "rough hair," or that which is imported in its natural 
state, is hackled, and the shortest sold to the manufacturers 
of mattresses, it being first curled. After being hackled, the 
different lengths are combed out, assorted, tied in bunches, 
and ready for coloring. After this process, the bunches are 
carefully inspected, measured, and put away for the loom. 
The cloth is made in widths of from fourteen to thirty-two 
inches. 

Contrary to the popular idea, the hair is not, as a rule, 
round. A section under the microscope shows a form as 
though a third of a circle had been cut off, and the flat por- 
tion slightly indented. This conformation caused some diffi- 
culties in the manipulation, which required great skill and 
the most delicate machinery to overcome. The warp used 



HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 123 

is made of cotton, and prepared with great care. A bunch 
of hair which has been soaked in water is placed in position, 
and the individual hairs are picked up, to be by the shuttle 
laid carefully in the weft. If the machine fails to take a 
hair, which occasionally happens at the first trial, it con- 
tinues its efforts until it succeeds, the other portions of the 
machinery standing still in the meantime. The shuttle is 
an awkward looking, but most delicately operating imple- 
ment. The hair must not be bruised, and it must not be 
stretched ; the necessity for such gentle manipulation led to 
the idea embodied in the Encyclopaedia, that no machinery 
could be constructed capable of performing the operation 
with sufficient exactitude and regularity. It is impossible 
to appreciate this loom without seeing it in operation, and 
having the benefit of the explanations of its ingenious in- 
ventor, Mr. Isaac Lindsley, who has been many years at 
work upon it, and who, after surmounting obstacles which 
would have been insuperable to one less tenacious and skill- 
ful, has brought it to what to the common comprehension 
seems perfection. The precision of the loom will be seen 
when we state that one girl attends ten of them. 

It will be readily understood that a manufacture of this 
kind has not grown up in a day, and that almost every pro- 
cess has required new inventions in order not only to cheap- 
ness and excellence of production, but to any product. 
Thus, in shearing by hand the cloth to get rid of the ends of 
hairs, which, more or less, would be found sticking up in 
the surface, it was impossible always to perform the work 
as rapidly as was necessary. Mr. Lindsley therefore in- 
vented an apparatus which takes the place of twenty-five 
girls, and answers the purpose completely. It is overlooked 
by a girl who earns a dollar and a half a day, without 
manual exertion save of the slightest character, but who 
gives the machine strict attention to see that it receives no 
impediment from clogging or otherwise. The finishing of 



124 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 

the cloth is the same as in the manufacture of woolen goods 
— with differences. The quality of the cloth is better than 
that made by hand, but it comes in the market in competi- 
tion with that made where twenty-five cents a day is ordi- 
nary wages. In Germany the awkward hand looms are 
found in the peasants' homes, and whatever the children 
earn by working them is so much gain. 

In 1864 this company erected the spacious building in 
Central Falls, now occupied by it. It is built of brick, 
204x54 feet, four stories in height, with an additional base- 
ment story under one-half its length, with an ell 75x24 feet, 
four stories. It is operated by water — 90 horsepower ; 100 
hands are employed, and 400 looms are run. Eventually 
525 looms will be put in. Three thousand five hundred 
yards of hair cloth are made per month. 

The girls who tend the looms earn, on an average, nearly 
a dollar and fifty cents per day. To Gen. Arnold, the 
treasurer, is due great credit for the conduct of the business 
in its earlier days, and to Mr. Lindsley the praise of a per- 
severance which knew no flagging, and a fertility of re- 
source which surmounted every difficulty. The various in- 
ventions of Mr. Lindsley are patented as well in England, 
France and Germany as in this country, and there is no 
reason to doubt that in his case his labors will receive a 
generous reward, a, fate which too many inventors have 
never enjoyed. 

THE CENTRAL FALLS WOOLEN MILL. 

The company was incorporated January, 1870, but is not 
yet organized. Phettepjace & Seagrave, of Providence, 
and .lames L. Pierce arc the owners. 

The building is of brick, very substantially built, 150x50 
feet, four stories high, with an ell, constructed of wood, 
81x88 feet, with basement, 88x38 feet. The boiler house 



HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 125 

is of brick, 50x30 feet. Water power is used, the capacity 
being 50 horse power, and is to be supplemented, when the 
mill is filled with machinery, by an engine. This mill is 
just starting up with 24 broad looms, and six setts of cards. 
The product is to be cassimeres and doeskins. The full 
capacity of the mill is fourteen setts. 

Mr. Pierce is a practical manufacturer, having been with 
Edward Harris, of Woonsocket, for some fifteen years, and 
a member of the manufacturing firm of J. T. Seagrave & 
Company, (Granite Woolen Company,) Burrillville. He 
will have the charge of the mill, and will make a medium 
and fine quality of goods, having introduced all the newest 
and most improved machinery. With the capital of the old- 
established firm in Providence, and the skill and energy of 
Mr. Pierce, success is not doubtful. 

THE STAFFORD MANUFACTURING COMPANY 

make white and colored soft enameled spool thread, for 
hand and machine sewing. This company was incorporated 
in 18-64, with a capital of $300,000. It is named in honor 
of the late Rufus J. Stafford, who originated the business in 
1859, raised it to about one-half its present dimensions, and 
died in 18G3. The organization is as follows: 

John A. Adams, of Central Falls, President and Agent. 
Joseph Wood, of Central Falls, Treasurer. 
John A. Taft, of Providence," Secretary. 

The premises occupied by this company are situated on 
the west side of the Blackstone River, and consist of a very 
eligible lot of land and two mills, with the requisite build- 
ings. Very great improvements have been made, and are 
now making. One mill is stone, 102x40, three stories high, 
and was formerly used for the manufacture of cotton cloth, 
the company owning one-half. The other mill was built in 



126 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 

1824, of brick, and was originally about half its present 
size. It is now 204x40 feet, and five stories high. The dye 
house is also of brick, 60x30 feet ; an addition to the mill 
has been made by the present company, of brick, 140x30 
feet, three stories high, and one of the same material, 70x36 
feet, four stories high. The store house is of stone, 60x30 
feet, two stories in height. 

This mill was erected by John Kennedy and Almy & 
Brown, was afterwards owned by John Gardner, then by 
Stafford & Wood, and finally passed into the hands of the 
present owners. When in full operation this concern pays 
about $2,000 per month for spools, and about $5,000 per 
year for printing labels, &c. Every spool of thread is in- 
spected before it is packed, and the number of yards war- 
ranted is conscientiously given. The girls who wind the 
thread earn from $1 to $1.25 per day. The work is of 
course light, requiring rather care and dexterity than severe 
labor. The establishment is evidently managed with that 
judgment and scrutinizing care which are essential to success 
in so large a concern. 

The number of spindles is 13,000; 25,000 dozen spools 
of thread are manufactured per week ; about 300 hands are 
employed; the pay roll is $6,500 per month; the water 
power used is 300-horse power; 500 tons of coal are con- 
sumed per annum, and 500,000 pounds of cotton. 

The President, Mr. Adams, is a thoroughly practical man- 
ufacturer, having begun at the beginning and witnessed and 
made the business as it has grown in magnitude and the ex- 
cellence of its product. Competent to superintend the mills, 
and manage the out-of-door affairs of this extensive manu- 
facture, it is not surprising that this company should stand 
in the front rank in its own line of trade. 

It is always as pleasant as it is instructive to meet one 
who, fully conversant with an important branch of business 
is yet willing to communicate general information respecting 



HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHF1ELD. 



127 



it to those who are in pursuit of knowledge. Abernethy 
was a very great physician, but an unchancy man to interro- 
gate largely. We are indebted to Mr. Adams for the pleas- 
ure of a good deal more than a merely formal interview, and 
for ideas concerning topics of a wider scope than his imme- 
diate personal interest. 

C. C. Holland, manufacturer of cotton yarns, began busi- 
ness in 1867, in company with A. A. Stafford. He now oc- 
cupies the Andrew Jencks Mill, so-called, which is built of 
stone, is 40x00 feet, three stories in height, and uses 30-horse 
power of water, taken from the Blackstone River. The mill 
contains 2,500 spindles, employs 22 hands, and consumes 
2,500 pounds of cotton per week. 

Thurber, Horton & Wood are manufacturers of light sheet- 
ings, print cloths, threads and yarns. They occupy a stone 
mill erected in 1824 by Uriah Benedict, Bosworth Walker 
and William Allen. It is a verysubstantial and handsome 
structure, 78x44 feet, four stories high, with an ell of brick, 
28x16 feet. Another mill occupied by this firm is a wooden 
building, 82x32 feet, three stories in height, and other room. 
The entire power used is water — 115 horse-power. They 
run 7,800 spindles, 125 looms, and employ 125 hands, turn- 
ing out 800 pounds of thread per day ; use 270,000 pounds 
of line cotton yearly, and the annual value of their product 
is $125,000. 

Cushman & Fuller employ 14 hands, 24 rotary knitting 
frames, and their annual sales are from $12,000 to $15,000 
per annum. 

E. L. Slocum commenced business in 1867, employs 25 
hands, makes 1,100 cases of boots and shoes per year, and 
his annual sales amount to from $45,000 to $50,000. 

E. L. FREEMAN'S PRINTING HOUSE. 

The establishment of Hon. E. L. Freeman is not only 



128 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 

creditable to the village, but to the State. He publishes the 
first and only newspaper published in the town of Smithfield, 
and both in the size of his sheet and the quality of his arti 
cles his paper compares favorably with older establishments. 
Mr. Freeman is a practical man, who has as well the interests 
of the community at heart as the building up of his indi- 
vidual fortune. His job printing establishment is something 
extraordinary for a rural village, and a look through it inter- 
ested us much. 

Among other things we were much struck by the litho- 
graphic printing, or printing from stone, and, as many are 
not acquainted with the process, we will give a brief des- 
cription of it. The art of printing on stone was discovered 
about the beginning of the present century by Alois Sene- 
felder, an actor, of Munich, Bavaria. Differing from all 
other methods of printing, the impressions are obtained (by 
strict attention to chemical affinity) from a level surface. 
The stone used is a sort of calcareous slate found only in 
Germany, and is prepared for use by grinding and polishing 
the stone until it attains a perfectly smooth surface, when 
the design is put upon it for printing. The ink used is dif- 
ferent from other printing inks, having a much larger pro- 
portion of greasy si il (stances for which the stone has an 
affinity, while it repels or throws off water. 

The design having been placed upon the stone, the printer 
dampens the surface of the stone with water from a sponge, 
which of course will not take, where the design is, from the 
simple fact that oil and water will not mix. A roller made 
of French calfskin, covered with ink, is now passed over the 
stone, and, while it puts ink on the design or parts intended 
to be printed, will not even soil the parts of the stone which 
are damp. A sheet of paper is then put over it and it is 
passed through the press and an impression obtained. 

We were shown some very superior work of this descrip- 
tion, scarcely to be distinguished from printing on steel plate, 



HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 129 

except by an expert ; in fact, many jobs are transferred from 
steel plate to stone, and look nearly or quite as well. Mr. 
Freeman has the largest establishment of this kind in the 
State — in fact there is but one other — and showed us sam 
pies of printing for several of the largest manufacturing 
concerns within our borders, which was done in New York 
or Boston before he started this enterprise ; also some very 
fine specimens of checks and notes. He has nine litho- 
graphic presses, six of which are in constant operation ; and 
we were certainly surprised to find so complete and well- 
furnished shop in a country village, and there can certainly 
be no need for our citizens to go to New York or Boston for 
work of this kind when it can be done equally as well in 
our own State, and at the same time tend to build up a 
home industry. 

ALLENVILLE. 

Major William Smith was the first settler at this locality, 
it 1703. In 1813 the late Governor Philip Allen purchased 
land of Esek Smith, a descendant of Major William Smith, 
and erected a small cotton mill, which has received several 
additions. In 1857 Governor Allen sold to Earl P. Mason, 
Henry Lippitt and others, and it passed, in 1867, into the 
ownership of the Smithfield Manufacturing Company. In 
1820 Governor Allen built a house for the public schools, 
and for religious worship on Sundays. In 1849 the citizens 
erected a schoolhouse. In 1851 Governor Allen built a 
house for public worship and gave it to the citizens of the 
village. The population is about 200. 

GREENVILLE. 

This village was named in honor of Major-General 
Nathaniel Greene. Resolved Waterman settled here in 
1689. Joshua Winsor had a tract of land laid out to him 

17 



130 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 

by the town of Providence in 1.685. The hotel was built 
by Resolved Waterman in 1733. There are three mills — 
the Winsor Mills and two others. Two are woolen mills, 
comprising 15 sets of machinery, with two falls, aggregating 
45 feet. When running, 200 hands were employed, and 
420,000 yards of cloth were manufactured annually. They 
are now idle. Here was the pest house, in which were 
placed the small-pox patients at the time inoculation was 
introduced, prior to the Revolutionary war. In the town 
records of that time will be found frequent mention of this 
house, which was owned by Captain Andrew Waterman, and 
is still standing. A Baptist Church was erected here in 
1701 ; the Free Baptist in 1821, and the Episcopal Church 
in 1855. The National Exchange Bank, located here, has a 
capital of $150,000, and the Smithfield Savings Bank de- 
posits to the amount of $288,641.77. There is also in this 
place a large establishment for the manufacture of heavy 
team wagons. The population is nearly 1,000. 

SPRAGUEVILLE. 

This place was first settled by Abraham Smith, in 1733, 
and a grist mill was erected some years after and two houses 
built. . About 1824 Captain Thomas Sprague purchased the 
privilege and erected a mill. This property afterwards came 
into the possession of Wanton Vaughan and others. The 
company is now called the Granite Mill Company. There 
are in operation 112 looms, 5,000 spindles. The mill is 
built of stone, and is 120x80 feet, with a fall of 19 feet. 

Adjoining the Granite Mill estate is the Mountain Dale 
Hosiery Mill, owned by J. P. & J. G. Ray. 

STILLWATER. 

Daniel Smith located here in 1733. In 1824 Israel 
Arnold and his brother Welcome bought land of Daniel 



HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 131 

Smith's descendants and erected a small cotton mill. After- 
wards this property passed into the hands of Joseph Clark, 
of Johnston, who sold it to Robert Joslin. This mill was 
burned down and rebuilt several times. In 1866 Edward 
W. Brown purchased the property, and, with others, built a 
fine woolen mill and a model village — it being known as the 
" Stillwater Woolen Mill Co.;" chartered in 1867. The first 
mill of this company was burned down. The present struc- 
ture is a very fine one. It is a 10-set mill, making fancy 
cassimeres, built of brick, and is 130x52 feet, with one ell 
40x65 and one 45x32, and is five stories in height. The 
fall is 22 feet, affording 100 horse-power, and has steam 
power of nearly equal force. It employs 175 hands, and 
600,000 pounds of wool are manufactured annually, making 
450,000 yards of cloth. The village is neat, the tenements 
commodious-, and supplied with pure water, and everything 
pertaining to the establishment is pleasant, It is, in fact, a 
most conspicuous testimony to what wealth, directed by 
taste and business capacity, can accomplish. 

GEORGIAVILLE. 

Thomas Owen was the first resident in this place, in 1752. 
James Angell and Elisha Smith built houses in the vicinity 
in 1700. In 1755 John Farnum and two of his sons, Joseph 
and Noah, came from Uxbridge, Mass., and purchased of 
Thomas Owen his house and land, and commenced the busi- 
ness of blacksmithing, having also a forge just below the 
present mills of the Bernon Manufacturing Company. The 
iron ore was brought from Cranston, charcoal being used for 
smelting it. In 1760 John Farnum added to his house, 
which is still standing, in good repair, in possession of his 
granddaughter, Mrs. Ephraim Whipple. Joseph Farnum 
built a house here in 1770. 



132 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 

GEORGIA VILLE, IN SMITHFIELD, AND THE BERNON MANUFACTORY. 

The village of GeOrgiaville owes its origin and name to 
the construction of a cotton mill in that locality b} 7 the 
"Georgia Cotton Manufacturing Company," in the year 
18L1 

The original company, composed of Samuel Nightingale. 
Samuel G. Arnold and Thomas Thompson, built a stone mill, 
80x36 feet, on a fall of 18 feet- of the waters of the Woon- 
asquatucket River. They placed therein 1,000" spindles, 
wit hoii I looms, the power loom not having been introduced 
into common use in Rhode Island until the year 1817. 

The yarn was spun and dyed at the mill, and made into 
webs, which were put out to be woven by hand-loom 
weavers in various parts of New England. 

As this was one of the pioneer mills early established in 
Rhode Island, a retrospective glance at the records of this 
old establishment will disclose the primitive state of the 
cotton manufacture at its commencement there, and also 
serve to show the contrast between the present improved 
processes and those of past days. 

The cotton was at first picked by hand, and was distributed 
over the country in small parcels, to be cleaned of seeds and 
motes by industrious housewives and their children gathered 
around the domestic fireside. The loose cotton in their laps 
sometimes took fire, and accounts of burning up parcels of 
cotton, and also the dresses and houses of the industrious 
cotton pickers, sometimes formed a part of the business cor- 
respondence. 

The price paid for hand-picking the cotton was about as 
much as a manufacturer now expects to obtain as the net 
profit for the labor of spinning it. 

Equally remarkable was the price once paid for weaving 
yard-wide sheetings, which, as fixed by the tariff rate for 
No. 20 yarn, as printed on one of the old weaver's tickets, 



HTSTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 133 

appears to have been 13 cents per yard. This is the present 
selling price of similar cloth. For weaving ginghams the 
fixed price was 1 cent additional per yard for every different 
color. 

Another building of stone, 80x40 feet, was built in 1828, 
and a third addition of the same extent in 1846. 

The first power looms were introduced, in 1819, by Mr. 
(iilmore, from England, and a receipt signed by him for a 
contribution of $50 is evidence of the small- remuneration 
he received from a few manufacturers for his very useful 
labors. 

After the power loom was introduced, in 1819, the manu- 
facture of ginghams was superseded by that of sheetings. 
The number of spindles was gradually increased from 1,000, 
in the year 1813, to 7,700 in 1853, when the estate passed 
into the hands of Zachariah Allen. 

With only the small number of 1,000 spindles it appears, 
by the records of the stoppages for want of water in the 
year 1822, during the extraordinary drought of that year, 
there were 47^ days loss of time. The Blackstone River 
was correspondingly low that year.,. This extraordinary dry 
season demonstrated the necessity of resorting to an artificial 
supply of water from reservoirs for retaining the floods of 
winter to swell the scanty summer streams. The first act of 
incorporation in New England, for the . special purpose of 
constructing reservoirs for the supply of mills in seasons of 
drought, originated with the mill owners on the Woonasqua- 
tucket River in the year 1822. 

The recent stoppages of mills in New England by a want 
of water, and the great loss to unemployed laborers resulting 
therefrom during several months past, now imparts a revived 
interest in the construction of new reservoirs to provide 
against a recurrence of this evil. 

For this special reason a statement of what has been ac- 
complished on the Woonasquatucket River may afford pro- 



134 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 

fi table information to encourage mill owners on other streams 
to "go and do likewise." 



"& 



Reservoirs on the Head Waters of the Woonasquatuchet Hirer. 

Average Superficial acres, 

Acres. depth. 1 fool deep. 

The Greenville reservoir, constructed 

in 1822, contains 153 10 1.530 

The Waterman reservoir, constructed 

in 1837, contains 318 9 2.862 

The Thomas Spragne reservoir, con- 
structed in 1830, contains 95 13 ami ', .815 

Hawkins' reservoir 30 10 .300 

Bernon Mill Pond, 1853 133 3 .399 

Other mill ponds about 150 2 .300 

Acres land 879 Water acres , . 6. 1 96 

The capacity of these reservoirs is sufficient for the stor- 
age of a supply of water for the mills below them during 
four months, the fall being nearly 200- feet of descent to 
Olneyville. 

The public benefit derived from these reservoirs is mani- 
fest in the fact that the increased water power thus rendered 
available has proved sufficient for operating additional ma- 
chinery that furnishes employment to about 2,000 more 
people who directly or indirectly gain a living thereby. 
Thus a few hundred acres of swamp lands, flowed artificially 
as reservoirs, contribute more to the wealth and population 
of Rhode Island than would several thousand acres of the 
best lands of the fertile regions of the West. 

In constructing the dam and the waterfall at this village 
a safe plan has been adopted for the security of the work 
by turning the descending floods upon a ledge of rocks on 
the river side in successive cascades over the cliffs. 

By artificial improvements of the water in raising the dam 
to double the waterfall to 35 feet, and by the additional sup- 
ply of water stored in the reservoirs, 15,000 spindles have 



HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 135 

been operated without interruption by droughts for three 
years past, until the droughts of last autumn. This is cer- 
tainly a remarkable contrast with eight weeks' of stoppage, 
caused by drought, with only 1,000 spindles in operation in 
1822. 

One of the principal objects of interest here is the system 
adopted for transmitting the motive power by belts, moving 
with extraordinarily swift velocities, combined with the use 
of light hollow shafting, made of turned and polished gas 
pipes, and without any pulleys thereon for belting off. 

All the cards, drawing frames and fly frames contained on 
one floor of the mill, (250x70 feet,) and nearly 300 looms 
contained in the room above, of the same dimensions, are 
belted from only three lines of shafting extended the whole 
length of the mill. The belts all appear clinging around 
the naked shafts, and diverging both upward through the 
floor above and downward to the numerous machines below 
the shafting. Nearly every foot of their length is occupied 
by a belt. 

This novel plan of swiftly moving belts and swiftly re- 
volving light hollow shafting has been described as follows, 
in compliance with repeated requests for information : The 
hollow or tubular shafts are made 2f inches in diameter and 
18 feet long, and connected by ring couplings screwed to- 
gether. The weight is 5^ pounds, to each foot in length, 
being about one-fifth of the weight of the solid shafting com- 
monly used with their heavy plate couplings, bolts and 
pulleys. 

To impart the same velocity to the belts used on their 
naked surfaces, as when pulleys are employed, it is manifestly 
necessary to cause them to revolve with a correspondingly 
increased velocity, which has been found to be about three- 
fold faster, being about 600 revolutions per minute, while 
the heavy solid shafting with pulleys make about 200 revo- 
lutions per minute. 



136 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 

This three-fold increase of velocity increases the friction 
in the same ratio, while the five fold greater weight of the 
solid heavy shafts and pulleys correspondingly increases the 
friction, so that the result shows a saving of friction of two- 
fifths in favor of the light hollow shafting as a saving of 
motive power. 

As the light shafts make 600 revolutions to do the same 
work that the common solid shafting accomplishes by 200 
revolutions the immediate stress is sub-divided and reduced 
in the ratio of 6 to 2. The receiving pulleys require to be 
only one-third as large on the swiftly revolving light shaft- 
ing, as on the slower revolving solid shafting, while there 
are no driving pulleys used. An increase of speed of any 
machine is readily effected by winding a piece of belt leather 
around the shaft. The circulation of the air within and 
through the whole length of the hollow shafts keeps them 
cool. The cost of the light shafting is also much less than 
that of solid shafting with faced and turned couplings and 
pulleys. 

In regard to the velocity of motion of the main driving 
belts the speed of a mile a minute has been adopted as a 
safe and advantageous rule. This may appear to be some- 
what dangerous for practical use ; but when it is considered 
that ponderous English locomotive engines, weighing 35 tons 
or more, fly over the rigid railroad bars, and around curves,' 
with the calculated, speed of a mile a minute, and that car- 
loads of passengers trust themselves to be whirled over 
regions of country at this rate of speed the doubter may 
smile at the idea of hazard in trusting a pliable leather belt 
to travel with the same speed on its smooth and regular 
course. 

With the velocity of a mile per minute the tension on a 
belt is reduced to only 6^ pounds in transmitting 1 horse- 
power, and 250 pounds tension for transmitting 40 horse- 
power. With 6,000 feet velocity the tension is reduced to 
only 5 1 pounds for 1 horse-power. 



HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 137 

To calculate the tension imposed on a leather belt for the 
transmission of any given horse-power it is only necessary 
to divide the standard measure of a horse-power, viz.: 33,000 
pounds lifted 1 foot high per minute by the proposed num- 
ber of feet assigned as the velocity for the belt. With 
33,000 feet velocity per minute of a belt the tension would 
be only 1 pound for transmitting 1 horse-power ; and, on 
the contrary, with 1 foot velocity per minute the tension 
would be increased to 33,000 pounds for transmitting 1 
horse-power. 

A belt or bridle of good leather of an inch width will 
sustain a weight of 1,000 pounds; but the adhesion of it 
to the surface of pulleys is limited to 40 or 50 pounds ten- 
sion, while it operates with proper slackness to prevent 
straining it tightly to impair its durability. With the velocity 
of a mile per minute a leather belt of 6 inches width, at 40 
pounds tension to the inch, will durably transmit about 40 
horse-power. With a velocity of 6,000 feet per minute a 
main belt of 12 inches width has served to transmit the 
power of two water wheels, each 19 feet long and 18 feet 
diameter, with 16 feet fall of water, during a period of more 
than twelve years, and still remains serviceable. Another 
belt of 8 inches width has operated 10,500 spindles of self- 
acting mules, with spoolers and warpers, more than ten 
years. 

By means of light belts and shafts, with high velocities, 
the use of the ponderous old shafting and massy cog wheels, 
formerly employed, has been here dispensed with. Not a 
single cog wheel is retained, to require replacing for broken 
tooth, excepting only in the wet positions of the gearing of 
the wheel pits, there necessary to increase the speed to the 
desired velocity. 

These suggestions for improving and economizing the 
transmission of the greatest extent of motive power in mills, 

18 



138 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 

with the least cost of materials, may be found practically 
useful to engineers as hints for further improvements. 

Among the old papers and accounts of this mill was found 
the following amusing letter from one of the first superin- 
tendents, at the commencement of the business of manufac- 
turing cotton. His pathetic account of his troubles in man- 
aging 1,000 spindles, in the olden time, may excite a smile 
in managers of the great cotton manufactories of the present 
day : 

To , Agt., Providence. 

We spun 14,560 skeins last week; but who can count the yarn spun 
this week? "Why?" you will probably say; because some of it is 
reeled, some twisted into mule banding, and a large quantity held in 
reserve on bobbins. Presuming you will probably say that Ave ought 
to do as our neighbor manufacturer, P. Allen, has done, and weigh 
the bobbins and yarn, and then subtract the weight of the bobbins. 
My dear sir, we have no scales suitable to do this. Then you will say. 
" Why did you not send for them?" Dear sir, it is for the want of 
foresight and knowledge in our business. If you will send to me a 
suitable scale-beam of good length, say :H feet long, we will try to 
keep some account of yarn spun. Yet, however, it is a confused mess, 
and wants some of your information on the subject. There are so 
many things to hear, see, settle, transact, digest, add, take off, in- 
crease and command, — all in and through the cotton dust, that I can 
hardly tell what thing ought to come first. 

The dressing machine begins to rattle and blough; the looms begin 
to thump; and, the next you will say, "I wonder what will come 
next?" 

Your servant wishes to know! 



p. g._ Wanted— Codfish. 
Ginger. 
Pearl ash. 
Indian and Eye Meal. 

UNION VILLAGE. 

At the time that the territory of Smithfield was occupied 
by the Indians it was by them called Wionkheige in its 



HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 139 

southerly section ; Louisquisset in that portion round about 
Lime Rock, and Woonsocket in the northerly part of the 
territory. The present Union Village was originally called 
Woonsocket, the name being changed when the Union Bank 
was established there. The first house was built by James 
Arnold^ which was erected in 1690, a part of which is now 
standing, an addition having been built by Judge Peleg 
Arnold in 1780. Judge Arnold kept tavern here for many 
years. The second house was built by Hezekiah Comstock, 
in 1702, on the site where now stands the house of the late 
Walter Allen, now known as the Osborne house. The Uriah 
Arnold house was built by Captain Daniel Arnold in 1714. 
Thejrjends' Meeting House was built in 1719^ and was 
originally 20 feet square. It was enlarged by another, as 
an addition, in 1755, 20x30 feet, this addition being an ell. 
In 1775 this ell was removed and an addition, 32x32 feet, 
was added. In 1849 the entire building was remodeled, and 
remains in the form then given it. This house stands a little 
outside, and to the south of the village on the old Providence 
and Worcester road. Soon after the last reconstruction the 
meeting house was furnished with green blinds by Edward 
Harris, Welcome Farnum and Joseph Almy. For many 
years this was the only public house of worship in this 
vicinity, and as there were many Friends resident in the 
surrounding country it was usually filled on u First Day 1 
with an intelligent and devout congregation. 

The Friends moved at an early date in behalf of educa- 
tion. In 1771 they declared that "It is thought necessary 
that poor children be schooled," and Moses Farnum, Moses 
Brown, Thomas Lapham, Job Scott, Elisha Thornton, Samuel 
Aldrich, George Arnold, Antepast Earle and David Steere 
were appointed to draw up a plan establishing a free school 
among Friends. Report having been made recommending 
the organizing of said free schools, and Thomas Steere, 
Moses Farnum, David Steere, Moses Brown, Ezekiel Com- 



140 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 

stock, Benjamin Arnold, Rufus Smith, Daniel Cross, George 
Smith, Samuel Aldrich, Gardner Earle, David Buffum and 
Thomas Lapham, Jr., were appointed to select the places for 
the schools, to inspect the poorer sort of Friends' families, 
to determine who shall be schooled from the fund, and 
generally to transact all other matters and things belonging 
to the school. 

In 1718 "Providence monthly meeting" was set off from 
"Greenwich monthly meeting," and consisted of Providence 
and Mendon meetings. The name was changed, in 1731, to 
" Smithfield monthly meeting." In 1783 the present Provi- 
dence monthly meeting was set off from Smithfield monthly 
meeting. 

The Smithfield Academy, located at Union Village, was for 
a long time a flourishing and useful institution. It was built 
by lottery, and was "occupied in 1810. David Aldrich was 
the first teacher, who was succeded by Josiah Clark. John 
Thornton, who came next on the list, remained for about six 
years, when he was followed by George D. Prentice, after- 
wards so well known as the editor of the Louisville (Ky.) 
Journal. Other teachers were employed, among them 
Christopher Robinson, who thereafter became a prominent 
lawyer, residing in the present village of Woonsocket, and 
who has been Attorney General of the State, member of the 
House of Representatives of the United States, and United 
States Minister to Peru. The last teacher was James Bushee, 
who taught almost continuously for twenty years, impressing 
upon the school a character for solidity and effectiveness. 
When, about the year 1850, he closed his connection with 
the Academy,. not only did it cease to exist, but the last effort 
to induce or retain business or material life in this attractive 
village expired. 

About half a mile north of the village is one of. those 
natural curiosities occasionally found, of interest to the idlest 
observer, as well as to the geologist. u Coblin Rock" is of 



HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. Ml 

uniform diameter, standing on a large flat rock, and weighs 
probably about 200 tons. Near this were situated ^ he 
quarries from which the once famous "Smithfield Scythe 
Stones" were taken. It is estimated that not less than 
500 000 dozen of these stones were made, during a period 
of about twenty years. The make,, were at different tim<*, 
Marcus Arnold, George Aldrich, Thomas A. Paine and Han- 

son Arnold. . 

To the southwest, and at a short distance from Union 
Village, is situated Woonsocket Hill, the highest land in the 
State of Rhode Island. Its summit is 570 feet above high- 
water mark at Providence ; it is composed mostly of granular 
quartz, mica, and tulc. On the highest part of tins mil is a 

large pond. . ■ 

For the last forty years there has been no increase ,n the 
number of dwelling houses in Union Village ; two have been 
"moved, and two" erected, and yet there is (1870) no land 
for sale. The population is 1 25, and the picturesqueness and 
quiet of this ancient village are equalled by the intelligence, 
conservatism and virtues of its inhabitants. 

THE VALLEY OF THE MOSHASSUCK. 

The valley of the Moshassuck, along which the early set- 
tlers of Providence pushed northward almost from the first, 
was originally a region of great natural beauty, and has been 
the locality wherein the most successful business enterprises 
have alternated with the most disastrous experiments, i he 
"Lime Rock" country is diversified by hills, possesses a soil 
rich and permanent, and has been, for more than the life of 
the town, the centre of the manufacture of lime of the very 
highest quality. While this territory was yet a part o the 
town of Providence it was provided by law that the lime- 
stone quarries should be and remain the property of the 



142 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 

town ; they were not to be set off as other lands, to the inhab- 
itants, nor sold. This attempt at sovereign prerogative failed, 
however, although the town of Smithfield made some inef 
fectual attempts to revive it. The result was that the inval- 
uable quarries went into private hands. 

The manufacture of lime has been carried on with great 
success, and continuously, by the Dexter Lime Rock Com- 
pany, and the Harris Lime Rock Company, and their prede- 
cessors. The village of Lime Rock, which at one time was 
the location of the Lime Rock Bank, and the seat of consid- 
erable local business, is now, owing to the construction of 
the Providence and Worcester Railroad, and the tendency of 
the times toward centralization of capital, indeed a " deserted 
village." 

Passing down the valley one reaches within a few miles 
the Quinsnicket country, Quinsnicket signifying in the Indian 
language u the large place of rock houses." So recently as 
in the days of the late Stephen H. Smith the ruins of many 
of the Indian huts were in existence upon his place. Mr. 
Smith, who was an admirer of nature, a most advanced and 
excellent horticulturist and an indefatigable improver of 
whatever locality he had possession of, beautified the imme- 
diate vicinity of his residence, at Quinsnicket, by damming 
the Moshassuck and forming a beautiful lake, and by sur- 
rounding his house with such a wealth of trees, plants and 
creeping vines as to make it one of the most noticeable situ- 
ations of the town. 

The u Butterfly Factory," located in the immediate vicinity 
of the house of Mr. Smith, was originally erected for a cotton 
mill. It has been used for various purposes, but never with 
any permanent commercial success. Just below this building 
is a small privilege which was first occupied by Samuel 
Arnold, who, about the year 1816, established a distillery 
there. This enterprise proving unremunerative, Mr. Arnold 
and the late ex-Governor Lemuel H. Arnold, about 1826, 



HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 143 

converted the establishment into a print works, under the 
name of the Arnoldville Printing Company. This company 
was soon dissolved, and Holder C. Weeden took the place of 
ex-Governor Arnold. The concern was, not long after, burnt 
to the ground. It was rebuilt, Mr. Weeden carrying on the 
business, but was again, about 1844, destroyed by fire. In 
1846 Theodore Schroeder took possession of the establish- 
ment, which had been rebuilt, and changed the name to 
"Manchester Printworks," and for a time was eminently 
successful, but it was blown up by the explosion of steam 
boilers, and Mr. Schroeder failed about the year 1858. The 
works were again rebuilt and operated by Brown, Dean & 
Macready, who failed about 1862. The establishment having 
been purchased by Messrs. W. F. & F. C. Sayles, was oc- 
cupied by the American Worsted Co., for the manufacture 
of worsted braids and yarns. This was the first attempt to 
manufacture worsted braids in this country, and the poineer 
in a business which has since been developed to such an 
extent as to supply the needs of the country and practically 
shut out imported braid. The company consisted of Messrs. 
W. F. & F. C. Sayles, Darius G off and D. L. Goff. In 1864 
the company was dissolved, the Messrs. Goff starting the 
business at Pawtucket, and Messrs. W. F. & F. C. Sayles 
continued the old business under the name of the Union 
Worsted Co., until 1867, when the buildings and machinery 
were burned to the ground. This was the end, so far, of 
the attempt to manufacture on this site. , 

The Friends' Meeting House, situated just below the last 
mentioned privilege, was erected prior to 1708. On Octo- 
ber 2, 1708, Eleazer Arnold deeded to Thomas Smith and 
others a tract of land near the dwelling house of said Eleazer 
Arnold, seven rods by twelve, " on which stands a certain 
meeting house, of the people called Quakers." This has 
been known for many years as "Lower Smithfield meeting 
house." It still stands in a good state of preservation, and 



144 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 

is occupied, although not with the same regularity, nor by 
the same full congregations as in days of yore. 

A little further down stream will be seen the Moshassuck 
Bleachery, owned by W. F. & F. C. Sayles. This establish- 
ment was commenced in 1848, has increased in extent and 
facilities without interruption, and rapidly, and is without 
doubt the most extensive and completely equipped bleachery 
in the country, as it has been one of the most profitable. 
Not only are the buildings requisite for the business of the 
most substantial character, but the dwellings erected for the 
operatives are neat and commodious, while not a few of the 
employes own their residences and land sufficient to give 
opportunity for the display of agricultural taste. Beyond 
this the whole tone of the vicinage is healthy. The pro- 
prietors not only encourage, but pecuniarily aid every effort 
in behalf of temperance, of education, and of religious wel- 
fare. Here, where a quarter of a century ago there was 
nothing but the wilderness or a sandy waste, is now a 
thrifty, an attractive, a prosperous and exemplary village, 
destined to become still more conspicuous and progressive. 

DIVISION OF THE TOWN. 

There had been for several years a feeling on the part of 
many of the inhabitants of the town, that it should be 
divided. Various attempts had been made to set a portion 
oft' to Woonsocket, and the aid of the General Assembly 
had been invoked to favor such a project, but it was op- 
posed by the Representatives and Senator from the town, 
acting under instructions from the tax-payers, and was de- 
feated. The matter, however, was not allowed to drop, and 
on Saturday, January 21, 1871, a special meeting of the 
freemen was called at the Town House. After a full and 
free discussion, the question u shall the town be divided?" 
was carried in the affirmative by a vote of 111 to 33. 



HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 145 

The following resolution was then adopted without a dis- 
senting vote : — ■ 

"Resolved, That this meeting favors a division of the town of 
Smithfield, according to the act now on the Moderator's table, making 
the new towns of North Smithfield and Greenville." 

Afterwards the act was amended so as to leave the old 
name Smithfield to that portion of the town designated in 
the act as Greenville, giving the name of Lincoln to that 
portion which had been designed to be left as Smithfield. 

The following is the act as finally adopted : 

AN ACT SETTING OFF A PORTION OF SMITHFIELD TO WOONSOCKET, AND DIVID- 
ING THE REMAINDER INTO THREE TOWNS. 

Passed March 8, 1871. 

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows : 

Section 1. All that portion f the town of Smithfield lying and 
being within the following boundaries, that is to say, beginning at a 
point on the southerly line of said town of Smithfield, where the 
Douglas Pike (so-called) crosses said line in or over the Wenscott 
Reservoir; thence running easterly with and on said town line to the 
centre of the Blackstone River, being the southeasterly corner of said 
town of Smithfield; thence running with the centre of said Blackstone 
River, being the easterly boundary of said town to a point in the centre 
of said river, opposite the centre of the mouth of the Crook Fall River; 
thence running by and with the centre of said Crook Fall River to a 
point where the road leading from the Providence and Worcester road 
(so-called) past the house of Ephraim Sayles crosses the said Crook 
Fall River; thence running southerly on a straight line to the place 
of beginning, is hereby incorporated into a township by the name of 
Lincoln; and the inhabitants thereof shall have and enjoy the like 
benefits, liberties, privileges and immunities, and be subject to like 
duties and responsibilities, as the other towns in this State generally 
enjoy and are subject to. 

Sec. 2. All persons liable to pay taxes in said town of Lincoln 
shall be holden to pay to the collectors of the town of Smitbfield all 
arrears of taxes legally assessed on them in said Smithfield before the 
passage of this act. 

Sec. 3. The said town of Lincoln shall and may send to the Gen- 

19 



146 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 

eral Assembly two representatives, until the next reapportionment of 
representatives by the General Assembly. 

Sec. 4. There shall be drawn in the town of Lincoln for the Su- 
preme Court, when holden in the county of Providence, and for the 
Court of Common Pleas in said county, one grand and four petit 
jurors. 

Sec. 5. The said town of Lincoln, for the purposes of representa- 
tion in the General Assembly of this State, shall be considered a town 
on and after the first Wednesday in April next; and shall be consid- 
ered a town for all purposes whatsoever, on and after the first Monday 
in June next. 

Sec. G. The trial justice in the third voting district in the town 
of Smithfield, as at present organized, is hereby empowered to issue 
his warrant to any officer or other person whom he may appoint, to 
warn the qualified voters of the town of Lincoln to meet for the pur- 
poses required by law and the provisions of this act, on the first 
Wednesday in April next; on the first Monday in June next, and on 
the second Tuesday in June next. 

Sec. 7. The annual election of town clerk, council, treasurer and 
justices of the peace for said town of Lincoln, shall be held on the first 
Monday in June. The annual town meeting for the purpose of order- 
ing a town tax, school and highway tax, and for the transaction of 
such other business as may legally come before said meeting shall be 
held on the second Tuesday in June. 

Sec. 8. The town council of said town of Lincoln shall, at their 
first meeting next after their annual election, choose and elect so many 
town officers as by the laws of the State are or shall be required, ex- 
cepting such as by this act are directed to be otherwise elected. 

Sec. 9. The town council of said town of Lincoln elected as herein 
provided shall, at some meeting previous to the annual election, de- 
termine the number of justices of the peace to be elected by the peo- 
ple. Whenever any vacancy occurs in any of the officers of or in said 
town of Lincoln that are filled by the electors of said town at the 
annual election, the town council shall order a new election, and such 
election shall be notified and conducted according to law and the pro- 
visions herein contained. 

Sec. 10. The town council of the town of Smithfield shall make 
out a correct alphabetical list of all persons resident in said town of 
Lincoln entitled to vote in said town under article second, section 
first, of the constitution of this State, and a list of all persons entitled 
to vote by registry, and the payment of registry and other taxes, or by 
the performance of military duty; and shall cause the said list to be 



HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 147 

certified and delivered to the trial justice in and for the third voting 
district in said Smithfield, to be by him delivered to the moderator 
who shall preside at the first meeting of the electors of the said town 
of Lincoln. Said council shall also cause a corrected list of all persons 
entitled to vote as aforesaid, to be certified and delivered to the said 
justice, to be by him delivered to the moderator who shall preside at 
the meeting of said electors on the first Monday in June next. 

Sec. 11. All that part of the town of Smithfield lying and being 
within the following limits, to wit: beginning at a point on the State 
line between the States of Ehode Island and Massachusetts, being the 
point where the towns of Uxbridge, in Massachusetts, and Smithfield 
and Burrillville, in Rhode Island, meet, and are bounded, it being the 
northwest corner of the town of Smithfield; thence running southerly, 
on and with the west line of said town of Smithfield to a point being 
the northeast corner of the town of Glocester, where the northerly 
line of said Glocester and the southerly line of the town of Burrillville 
meet the westerly line of said Smithfield; thence running easterly to 
a point where the road leading from the Providence and Worcester 
road, (so-called,) by the house of Ephraim Sayles, crosses the Crook 
Fall River, near the house of Simon Newell; thence with said Crook 
Fall River, and the centre thereof, to a point being the centre of the 
mouth of said Crook Fall River, and the centre of the Blackstone 
River; thence in a straight line westerly to a point on the southerly 
line of the Providence and Worcester road, (so-called,) at the Booth 
pond, (so-called); thence with the southerly line of said road, exclud- 
ing said road, to a point on the same, where the road leading from 
Woonsocket Falls village to the Union village enters said road a little 
northerly of the Friends' meeting house; thence northerly in a straight 
line towards the easterly corner of the covered bridge, near the Black- 
stone Manufacturing Company's mill, until a point is reached due 
west from the centre of the dam of an ancient grist mill; thence 
running due east to the centre of Blackstone River; thence running 
with said river on the present town line of Smithfield, to the State 
line, it being the northeast corner of the town of Smithfield; thence 
running westerly on and with the northerly line of said town of Smith- 
field to the place of beginning, is hereby set off and incorporated into 
the township by the name of Slater; and the inhabitants thereof shall 
have and enjoy the like benefits, privileges and immunities, and Be 
subject to like duties and responsibilities as the other towns in this 
State generally enjoy and are subject to. 

Sec. 12. All persons liable to pay taxes in said town of Slater shall 
be holden to pay to the collectors of the town of Smithfield all arrears 



148 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 

of taxes legally assessed on them, in said Smithiield, before the passage 
of this act. 

Sec. 13. The said town of Slater may, and shall send to the Gen- 
eral Assembly two representatives, until the next reapportionment of 
representatives by the State. 

Sec. 14. There shall be drawn in the town of Slater, for the 
Supreme Court, when holden in the county of Providence, and for 
the Court of Common Pleas, in said county, one grand and two petit 
jurors. 

Sec. 15. The said town of Slater, for the purposes of representa- 
tion in the General Assembly of this State, shall be considered a town 
on and after the first Wednesday in April next; and shall be consid- 
ered a town for all purposes whatsoever, on and after the first Monday 
in June next. 

Sec. 16. William II. Seagrave is hereby empowered to issue his 
warrant to any officer or other person whom he may appoint to warn 
the qualified electors of the town of Slater, to meet for the purposes 
required by law and the provisions of this act, on the first Wednesday 
in April next, and on the first Monday in June next. 

Sec. 17. The annual election of town clerk, town council, treas- 
urer, and justices of the peace, for said town of Slater, shall be held 
on the first Monday in June, and for the transaction of other town 
business, which may properly be presented, shall be held on the second 
Monday in June. 

Sec. 18. The town council of said town of Slater shall, at its first 
meeting next after the annual election of such town council, choose 
and elect so many town officers as by the laws of the State are, or shall 
be required, excepting such as are by this act directed to be otherwise 
elected. 

Sec. 19. The town council of said town of Slater, elected as herein 
provided, shall, at some meeting previous to the annual election, de- 
termine the number of justices of the peace to be elected by the peo- 
ple. Whenever any vacancy occurs in any of the offices of said town 
of Slater, that are filled by the electors of said town, at the annual 
election, the town council shall order a new election, and such election 
shall be notified and conducted according to law and the provisions 
herein contained. 

Sec. 20. The town council of the town of Smithfield shall make 
out a correct alphabetical list of all persons resident in said town of 
Slater, entitled to vote in said town, under article second, section 
first, of the constitution of this State, and a list of all persons entitled 
to vote by registry, and the payment of registry or other taxes, or by 



HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHF1ELD. 149 

the performance of military duty; and shall cause the said list to be 
certified and delivered to said William H. Seagrave, to be by him de- 
livered to the moderator who shall preside at the first meeting of the 
electors of the said town of Slater. Said council shall also cause a 
corrected list of all persons entitled to vote as aforesaid, to be certified 
and delivered to the said Seagrave, to be by him delivered to the 
moderator who shall preside at the meeting of said electors, on the 
first Monday of June next. 

Sec. 21. The town of Lincoln shall be liable for the support of all 
persons who now do, or who shall hereafter, stand in need of relief as 
paupers, whose settlement was gained by or derived from a settlement 
within the limits of said town of Lincoln, as described by this act. 
And the town of Slater shall be in like case or cases equally liable for 
the support of persons needing relief as paupers, whose settlement 
was gained by or derived from a settlement witliin its limits, as 
described by this act. 

Sec. 22. The indebtedness of the town of Smithfield, as at present 
defined, shall be apportioned between and paid by the towns of 
Lincoln, Smithfield and Slater, as organized by this act, and the ter- 
ritory herein set off and annexed to the town of Woonsocket, in pro- 
portion to the ratable property in said towns and territory, according 
to the last assessment in and by the town of Smithfield, as at present 
organized. The town of Slater shall be, and is hereby empowered to 
assess upon the persons and estates in the territory hereby set off and 
annexed, and collect the ratable proportion of the debt of the town of 
Smithfield, which said annexed territory would be liable to pay if it 
had remained as a part of the town of Slater, and the money arising 
therefrom shall pay over as a part of the sum provided for the pay- 
ment of the indebtedness of said town of Smithfield; and in case said 
town and territory aforesaid shall not agree in respect to the division, 
apportionment and payment of said indebtedness, the Court of Com- 
mon Pleas for the county of Providence shall, upon the petition of 
either town, appoint three competent and disinterested persons to 
hear the parties and make award therein; and their award, or that of 
any two of them, accepted by the court aforesaid, shall be final. 

Sec. 23. The books of records and papers of the town of Smith- 
field shall be and remain in the custody of the town of Lincoln, but 
the inhabitants of the town of Smithfield, and of the town of Slater, 
shall at all times have access to the same, in like manner, and under 
like conditions as if the town of Smithfield had not been divided. 
The town clerk of the town of Smithfield shall, as soon as may be, 
after the passage of this act, cause so much of the said records as re- 



150 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 

lates to lands in the town of Smithfield, as the same shall be bounded, 
after the passage of this act; and so much as relates to lands in the 
town of Slater, as have been made since the year 1850, to be trans- 
cribed and copied for the use of the said towns respectively, the ex- 
pense thereof to be charged to the said town of Smithfield, as at 
present organized. And such transcripts or copies shall have all and 
the same validity as the original record. 

Sec. 24. Said towns of Smithfield and Slater shall provide books 
for the registry of land titles, and such other records as are and may 
be required by the laws of this State, to be kept by the several towns 
therein. 

Sec. 25. The town and other officers shall continue to exercise 
their several offices in the towns of Smithfield and Slater, so far as 
pertains to town affairs, until the election of officers in the towns of 
Lincoln and Slater, and until their successors be qualified to act. 

Sec. 26. The school commissioner shall apportion the school 
money in the towns of Lincoln, Smithfield and Slater, in accordance 
with the last census taken by the authority of the United States in 
the town of Smithfield, and published, to be divided as follows: The 
school committee of the town of Smithfield shall cause the census to 
be taken prior to the first day of June next, in the towns of Smithfield 
and Slater, of all children under fifteen years of age, and report the 
number of said children in each town to the said commissioner; and 
he shall distribute the school money to each town in ratio to the num- 
ber of children in each town, to the apportionment made to the towns 
of Lincoln, Smithfield and Slater under the last census, under which 
apportionment has been made. 

Sec. 27. The town councils of the said towns of Lincoln and Slater 
may each remove all officers by them respectively appointed, for mis- 
conduct or incapacity, at any regular meeting of said councils. 

Sec. 28. All that portion of the town of Smithfield lying north- 
erly and easterly of a line commencing at a point in the centre of the 
Blackstone River, directly opposite the mouth of Crook Fall River; 
thence running northwesterly in a direct line to the southerly line, 
and including it, of the Providence and Worcester road, (so-called,) 
at the Booth pond, (so-called); thence running on and with the 
southerly line of said Providence and Worcester road, and including 
said road, to a point where the road leading from Woonsocket Palls 
village to the Union village enters said Providence and Worcester 
road near the Friends' meeting house; thence in a direct line north- 
erly towards the easterly corner of the covered bridge, near the Black- 
stone Manufacturing Company's mill, until the line reaches a point 



HISTORY* OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 151 

due west from the centre of the clam, by what was an ancient grist 
mill; thence running clue east to the centre of the Blackstone River, 
is hereby set off from said town of Smithfield, and annexed to the 
town of Woonsocket, and the portion so set off and annexed is hereby 
declared to be within the limits and jurisdiction of said town of 
Woonsocket, for all purposes except as herein provided; and the in- 
habitants of the said portion so set off and annexed shall have and 
enjoy all the rights, privileges and immunities, and be subject to all 
the duties and liabilities which the inhabitants of said town of Woon- 
socket have and enjoy, and to which they are subject. 

Sec. 29. The town of Woonsocket shall be liable for the support 
of all persons who now do, or who shall hereafter stand in need of 
relief as paupers, whose settlement was gained by or derived from a 
settlement within the limits of the portion of the said town of Smith- 
field hereby set off and annexed. 

Sec. 30. All persons and estates in said portion of said town of 
Smithfield so annexed shall be holden to pay to the town of Smithfield 
all arrears of taxes legally assessed therein prior to the passage of this 
act, in the same manner as if this act had not been passed. 

Sec. 31. All the books of records of said town of Smithfield shall 
be the property and remain in the custody of the town of Lincoln, in- 
corporated by this act; but the inhabitants of the portion of Smithfield 
set off and annexed as aforesaid shall have the same right of access to 
the same as if this act had not been passed; and the town clerk of the 
town of Smithfield shall, as soon as may be after the passage of this 
act, cause so much of said records as relates to land in said portion so 
set off and annexed as have been made since the year 1850, to be 
transcribed and copied for the use of said town of Woonsocket, the 
expense whereof shall be paid by said town of Woonsocket; and said 
transcripts and copies shall be deposited in the office of the town 
clerk, in said town of Woonsocket, and certified copies thereof shall 
have the same validity as certified copies from the original record. 

Sec. 32. The school commissioner shall apportion the school 
money for said town of Smithfield, and the portion of said town hereby 
set off and annexed, as aforesaid, in accordance with the last census 
taken by the authority of the United States, in the said town of 
Smithfield, under which an apportionment has been made, to be 
divided as follows: The school committee of the said town of Smith- 
field shall cause a census to be taken prior to the first day of June, A. 
D. 1871, of all the children under the age of fifteen years in said 
Smithfield, and in the portion of said town hereby set off and annexed, 
and shall report the same to said school commissioner, and he shall 



152 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OP SMITHFIELD. 

distribute said school money to said town of Smithfield, as hereinbe- 
fore provided, and to the said town of Woonsocket, in ratio to the 
number of children in said town of Smithfield as at present organized, 
exclusive of the portion hereby set off and annexed, and in said portion 
so set off and annexed to the apportionment made to the town of 
Smithfield under the last census under which an apportionment has 
been made, until the publication of the census taken under the 
authority of the United States, in the year A. D. 1870. The towns 
of Smithfield and Woonsocket shall pay in equal proportions the ex- 
pense of taking said census. 

Sec. 33. The said town of Smithfield shall assume and remain 
holden for all debts and other liabilities of said town, arising out of 
any contract made by said town prior to the passage of this act; and 
for all claims hereafter arising in consequence of any tiling done, or 
omitted to be done by said town, prior to the passage of this act; and 
the town of Woonsocket, as at present constituted, shall pay to the 
town of Smithfield, as at present constituted, on or before the first 
day of May, A. D. 1871, the sum of seven thousand five hundred 
dollars. 

Sec. 34. Except as provided in section 33, of this act, all rights 
and remedies of every kind or nature, which said town of Smithfield 
had or was entitled to, in any wise growing out of or pertaining to 
that portion of said town, set off and annexed as aforesaid, shall be- 
long and appertain to said town of Woonsocket, and except as pro- 
vided in said section 33, all the obligations, duties and liabilities 
which said town of Smithfield is now under or in any way subject to, 
rising out of, or pertaining to the portion set off or annexed, are 
hereby imposed upon, and shall be assumed by the town oi Woon- 
socket, in the same manner and to the same extent as said town of 
Smithfield would have been liable therefor if this act had not been 
passed; and all suits and proceedings in relation tbereto shall be 
brought bv and against said town of Woonsocket. 

O v CD 

Sec. 35. All proceedings, civil and criminal, commenced or pend- 
ing prior to the passage of this act, before the trial justice in said 
portion set off and annexed as aforesaid, shall remain within the 
jurisdiction of said justice, who is hereby authorized to proceed to 
final judgment and execution therein, as if this act had not been 



Sec. 36. All proceedings commenced or pending, prior to the 
passage of this act, before the Court of Probate of the town of Smith- 
field, arising from or within said portion set off and annexed as afore- 
said, si i all remain within the jurisdiction of said Court of Probate of 



HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 153 

the town of Smithfield, which said court is hereby authorized to pro- 
ceed upon said matters, as if this act had not heen passed. 

Sec. 37. Except as provided in sections 35 and 36, of this act, the 
town and other officers of the town elected by said town of Smithfield 
shall continue to exercise their several offices in said portion set off 
and annexed as aforesaid, so far as relates to town business, until the 
next annual election in the town of Woonsocket, and until the officers 
elected at such election shall be qualified to act. 

Sec. 38. The court of magistrates of Woonsocket shall, from and 
after the passage of this act, have exclusive jurisdiction (except as 
provided in section 35, of this act,) within the limits of said portion 
set off and annexed as aforesaid, in all civil actions and criminal cases 
and proceedings whatsoever, jurisdiction over which is, or may have 
been given by law to the trial justice residing in said portion set off 
and annexed as aforesaid. 

Sec. 39. From and after the passage of this act the valuation of 
the town of Smithfield as it then remains, as a basis of the State tax 
provided by Chapter 749 of the Statutes, shall be 11,762,443; and the 
valuation of Woonsocket, for the purpose aforesaid, shall be $6,208,- 
632; the valuation of the town of Lincoln, for the purpose aforesaid, 
shall be $4,406,107; and the valuation of the town of Slater, for the 
purpose aforesaid, shall be $1,762,443. 

Sec. 40. The town clerk of said town of Smithfield shall, on or 
before the fourth day of April, A. D. 1871, transmit to the town clerk 
of said town of Woonsocket a certified list of all persons residing in 
said portion set off and annexed as aforesaid, who would have been 
qualified to vote in said Smithfield on the fifth day of April, A. D. 
1871, upon any proposition to impose a tax on or for the expenditure 
of money in said Smithfield had this act not been passed. And also a 
certified list of all persons residing therein, who might have been 
qualified to vote for general officers on said fifth day of April, A. D. 
1871, had not this act been passed. 

Sec. 41. The town farm, town house, furniture, stock and tools 
now the property of the town of Smithfield shall be and remain the 
property of the town of Smithfield, as the same should be bounded 
after the passage of this act. 

Sec. 42. On or before the second Monday in June next the town 
of Smithfield, as at present organized, shall pay to the town of Slater, 
incorporated by this act, the sum of five thousand dollars; and on or 
before the second day of June next shall pay to the town of Lincoln, 
incorporated by this act, the sum of two thousand five hundred 
dollars. 

20 



154 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 

Sec. 43. The bridewell in the village of Bernon, the property of 
the town of Smithfield, shall be and remain the property of the town 
of Woonsocket. 

Sec. 44. The poor in the asylum of the town of Smithfield shall 
be taken care of by the town of Smithfield until the towns of Lincoln 
and Slater shall respectively have reasonable time to provide for such 
as they may be legally liable to take charge of, said town of Smithfield 
to be paid the actual amount expended in keeping said paupers. 

Sec. 45. Charles Moies, Job Shaw, Arlon Mowry and Cyrus 
Arnold are hereby appointed a committee to run the lines and set up 
stone bounds between the several towns named in this act, and to ap- 
portion equitably the expense thereof between said towns, which said 
towns shall be held to pay. 

Sec 4G. Charles Moies, Latimer W. Ballon and Bradbury C. Hill, 
are hereby appointed a committee to adjust equitably the proportion 
of any of the debt of the town of Woonsocket, which the portion 
hereby set off, and annexed of and from Smithfield, should assume 
and pay, and their report, or that of any two of them, shall be final. 

Sec 47. All appropriations made by the town of Smithfield prior 
to the passage of this act, shall be paid and expended in the same man- 
ner, and upon and for the same territory as though this act had not 
been passed. 

Sec 48. The town of Smithfield as bounded and organized after 
the passage of this act, may and shall send to the General Assembly 
one representative until the next re-apportionment of representatives 
by the State. 

Sec 49. There shall be drawn in the town of Smithfield as con- 
stituted after the passage of this act, for the supreme court, when 
holden in the county of Providence, and for the court of common 
pleas, in said county, one grand and two petit jurors. 

Sec 50. The town of Lincoln shall be divided into two voting- 
districts. Voting district number one shall comprise all the territory 
in said town, which is now voting district number three, in the pres- 
ent town of Smithfield. Voting district number two shall consist of 
all the remaining territory in said town of Lincoln. 

Sec 51. All business commenced, or pending before the court of 
probate of the town of Smithfield, as at present organized, which 
shall be and remain unfinished on the second Tuesday of June next, 
shall be transferred to, and proceeded with and concluded by the town 
council of the town of Lincoln, in like manner, and with the same 
effect as the same would and might have been proceeded with, and 
concluded by the court of probate of Smithfield, if this act had not 



HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 155 

been passed, and the records thereof shall he made and kept in the 
hooks of the town of Smithfield, as at present organized. 

Sec 52 The town of Woonsocket as constituted by this act maj 
and shallsend to the General Assembly three representatives until the 
next reapportionment of representatives by the State. 

Sec 53. All acts and parts of acts inconsistent herewith, are here- 

by repealed. 

"SSS SEES 55 BEMMNPEU .NTO THREE TOWNS. 

Passed March 24, 1871. 

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: 

Section 1. Section eleven of said act is hereby amended by chang- 
ing the nLe of Slater in said section, to that of North Suiithhel ; 
also in each subsequent section, where the name of Slater appeals, it 
is hereby changed to that of North Smithfield. 

Sec 2 William H. Seagraves is hereby empowered to issue Ins 

warrant to any officer or other person whom he may appoint to jarn 

he qualified electors of the town of North Smithfield to meet for the 

purposes required bylaw and the provisions of this act on the second 

Monday in June, 1871. _ . 

Sec 3 So much of the act to which this is m amendment as le- 
quires" either of the towns named therein, to draw Grand jurors for 
the Supreme Court for the county of Providence is hereby repealed 

Sec. 4. All acts and parts of acts inconsistent herewith are hereby 

^Sec! 5. This act shall take effect from and after its passage. 

Smithfield was the largest town L in the State ; it was in- 
corporated, (being set off from Providence,) in 1730 and 
was always an important municipality. It is not strange that 
many of her citizens regretted the change of circumstances 
which demanded her dismemberment, although almost all 
had come to see that the thing was inevitable, and the vast 
majority to feel that, sentiment aside, a division would be 
preferable in all respects. Woonsocket gains something like 
three thousand in population, and two millions of taxable 
property, making its population, speaking roundly, twelve 



HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 

thousand, and its valuation six millions of dollars. Never in 
st v was this thriving place in a more promising con- 
dition. In addition to the large woolen and cotton mills 
which have so long stood as monuments of its enterprise, and 
many of which have recently been much enlarged, it now pro- 

s - a large establishment for the manufacture of rubber 
Ls, a washing and wringing machine factory, a large 
foundrv. with other and different manufactures, giving it a 
varied and prosperous industry. The returns of the six in- 
stitutions for savings, which are located here, show a very 
gratifying condition, pecuniarily speaking, of the inhabi- 
tants. There is accumulated capital, every facility, save 
tide water, for doing business, real estate is advancing, man- 
ufacturers. merchants and business men generallv are on a 
firm and substantial foundation, and Woonsocket is growing 
rapidly and safely. With its now diversified and important 
interests, its easy and rapid communication with Providence. 

31 id and New York, its mechanical ingenuity and appli- 
ances, its pure water and healthy location, it is destined, 
humanly speaking, to become one of the most active and 
populous, as well as wealthy towns in the State. 

The town of Slater, being the northernmost of the towns 
carved out of old Smithfield. comprises about twenty-five 
square miles, and its valuation, in the act of division. 1,762,- 
4-43 dollars. Within its limits is that portion of the Water- 
ford woolen mills which lie in Rhode Island, a valuable but 
unimproved water power at Branch village, the scythe works 
of Mansfield Lamb at Forestdale. the Forestdale cotton mills, 
the village of Slatersville with its busv mills and thousands 
of spindles, and the beautiful Union Village, which, although 
deserted by trade, was a lively place before Woonsocket. 
known save for its falls, its grist mill, and pine hills, and is 
still, in some respects one of the most attractive locations in 
this vicinity. This town may be as economically managed 
as any town need be. The two important bridges, one of 



HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 157 

wood at the Branch Village, and the stone arched bridge at 
Slatersville, are in good condition, and the latter will need 
no repairs, apparently, for a century to come. The farmers 
are, as a rule, well-to-do ; school-houses are sufficiently num- 
erous and large, the roads are in good order, and without 
littleness, the population is prudent, and conservative, with- 
out being indifferent to a genuine progress. Largely agri- 
cultural, the farmers find their markets in the adjoining vil- 
lages, and fully appreciate the fact that without these vil- 
lages their lands would be of comparatively little value. 
Their wood, their butter, their poultry and vegetables bring 
good prices and ready sale, and it is easy to see that a com- 
pact town, where every man knows every other man, and 
meets him often, will be more carefully, not to say honestly 
managed and governed than one twenty miles in length with 
many conflicting and sectional interests, the population of 
which rarely ever comes together except once a year at the 
June town meeting, to protect or plunder : as the case may 
be, the town treasury. Seventeen thousand people, scatter- 
ed over seventy-five square miles, part living in compact 
villages, and part in the rural districts, can scarcely be said 
to be a homogeneous, and experience has shown, is not likely 
to be an harmonious population. 

The town of Smithfield, as at present bounded, lies south 
of Slater and west of the new town of Lincoln. It covers 
an area of twenty-eight square miles, is very nearly a square 
in form, and is rated in the act of division, at the same val- 
uation as the town of Slater. Within its limits are the man- 
ufacturing villages of Georgiaville, Allendale and Greenville, 
the latter the largest, and a very pretty village. This town 
has the smallest population of the three, into which the old 
town has been divided. It has more roads in proportion to 
its population and wealth than either of the others, although 
its bridges are less expensive. It retains the old town - house 
and town farm, as well as the name, to which its inhabitants 



158 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 

clung with great and very proper pertinacity, inasmuch as it 
is likely to remain intact, and to preserve the old traditions 
and habits longer than would either of the others. More 
repugnance was felt in regard to the division, in this section 
of old Smithfield than elsewhere; for a long time the feel- 
ing against it was almost universal, and it was only the logic 
of events, which, and as they thought rather expensively, 
influenced the people of this region to acquiesce in the new 
order of things. In the arrangement of representatives, 
new Smithfield took only one, although she has not for 
many years been honored with the Senator. She will here- 
after have a member in the upper house, and is quite capa- 
ble of sending one worthy to sit in, and aid the delibera- 
tions of that body. Greenville will be the central and prom- 
inent village in this town, and with the renewal of operations 
in the large woolen mills there, we shall hope to see it enter 
upon a new era of prosperity. One thing is certain, this 
will be a substantial town, which will, in all that goes 
toward making a vigorous and progressive community, be 
an honor and an advantage to the State. 

Lincoln lies south of Woonsocket and east of Smithfield. 
It contains about eighteen square miles, and has a valuation 
of 4,406,107 dollars. In this town are Manville, Albion, 
Ashton, Lonsdale, Valley Falls and Central Falls. The pop- 
ulation is about nine thousand. This it will be seen is the 
smallest and wealthiest of the three towns. Bounded on the 
east by the Blackstone river, with great manufacturing in- 
terests, with the compact and go-a-head village of Central 
Falls, it will be as busy and as productive as almost any town 
in the State. In the nature of things, however, it is not 
likely to remain as at present limited for any great length of 
time. At Manville, the mills are in Cumberland, while the 
village is in Lincoln ; at Ashton the mill and one village are 
in Cumberland, while another village belonging to the same 
company is in Lincoln ; at Albion, the case is the same as at 



HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 159 

Manville ; at Lonsdale, the Lonsdale Company have on the 
one side of the river in Lincoln, a large establishment, com- 
prising several mills and a bleachery, and over the river, in 
Cumberland, a large mill and its accompanying village. 
Valley Falls is situated — mills and village on both sides of 
the river, and Central Falls is in like condition, and spread- 
ing rapidly on either side. If there was any reason — and 
there were cogent and conclusive reasons — for what has now 
been done, a short time will probable suffice to show that 
much more is to be done to meet the necessities of the 
times, and keep pace with the requirements of our ever in- 
creasing industries, and the progress of the people in pecu- 
niary, social and governmental affairs. In many respects 
Central Falls is a model of enterprise, and it has perhaps, 
within its limits as many different branches of business as 
any place of its size anywhere. Should it hereafter be joined 
to Pawtucket, Pawtucket would be certainly industriously 
managed, and without doubt, judiciously and profitably. 
But we were to write only of what is, not of what is to be, 
or may be. 

The Smithfield which Samuel F. Man, Lewis Dexter, Ses- 
sions Mowry, Asa Winsor, Thomas Mann, Thomas Buffum, 
Joseph Wilkinson and Morton Mowry knew, is a thing of 
the past. They and others as able and original though less 
known, made an impress upon it which lasts and is a force 
even yet. The ancient town house has resounded with their 
quaint and sensible remarks, the town council is yet imbued 
with many of their ideas ; and so strong were their intellects 
and so powerful their wills, that even the great change in 
the business, wants and population in the town, has not suf- 
ficed to efface their influence. 

But we have no right to live wholly in the past ; new cir- 
cumstances create new duties, and we shall best pay tribute 
to the memory of such men as we have named, by perform- 
ing in our day and generation that which is required of us, 



160 HISTORY OF THE TOAVN OF SMITHFIELD. 

as earnestly, and if possible, as effectually as they did in 
theirs. Agriculture has given place to manufacture ; a rural 
population, measurably, to villages ; the stage coach is al- 
most forgotten ; railroads, steam and the telegraph are the 
symbols and medium of our daily life ; our eyes are turned 
forward, and with an almost unconscious sigh in losing the 
old, we look with hope and trust to the new. We shall not 
wholly forget the past, may we realize our confidence in the 
future, And so, Old Smithfield, "Hail, and Farewell." 



APPENDIX A. 



Thomas Steere 



LIST OF CITIZENS OF SMITHFIELD, WHO HAVE HELD THE 
OFFICES HEREINAFTER DESIGNATED. 

Members of the Continental Congress. 

1787 to 1789 

Peleg Arnold mQ ^ im 

Daniel Mowry 

'Speakers of the House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island. 

May, 1853, to January, 1854 

(Reeled; hav"in g Yeen appointed U. S. Consul at Dundee, Scotland.) ^ ^ ^^ 

Sullivan Ballou 

Presidential Electors. 

. .......1844 

Stephen Stone lg64 ^ lg76 

William S. Slater • 



TWT OF JUSTICES OF THE SUPREME COURT AND COURT OF 
COMMON PLEAS, IN AND FOR THE COUNTY OF PROV- 
IDENCE, FROM SMITHFIELD. 

Chief Justice of the Supreme Court 
„ , A ,,, May, 1796, to June 1809 

^t 1 ^ May, 1810, to May, 1812 

Peleg Arnold J ' 

Assistant Justices. 

i May, 1766, to May, 1767 

Gideon Corns ook ■** } J „ . „ 

Gideon Comstock > > ^ 

T m ;7 ;f :::::: m, ™* *• *•* «»> 

Thomas Buftum J 

•21 



162 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 

Justices of the Court of Common Pleas. 

-Major William Jenckes, C. J 1734—1737 

Major William Jenckes, C. J 1743—1745 

David Comstock 1747—1749 

Thomas Lapham 1750—1760 

David Comstock, C. J 1761— 1762 

Thomas Lapham 1763—1764 

David Comstock 1765—1768 

Caleb Aldrich 1769—1; 74 

Daniel Mo wry, Jr 1776—1780 

Caleb Aldrich 1781—1787 

Abraham Mathewson 1788 — 1793 

Arnold Paine 1794—1802 

Thomas Mann 1806—1809 

Thomas Mann, C. J 1810 

Samuel Hill, Jr 1811—1817 

Thomas Mann 1818—1820 

Thomas Mann, C. J 1823—1832 

Lewis Dexter 1835 

David Daniels 1838—1839 

George L. Barnes 1840 

Lewis Dexter 1841 



APPEN DIX B. 



LIST OF ASSISTANTS AND SENATORS IN THE GENERAL ASSEM- 
BLY FROM THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD, 1731 to 
1798 INCLUSIVE. 

Assistants. 

1731 Major fm. Smith. 

1741 to 1743 John Dexter. 

1746 John Coinstock. 

1758 , Gideon Comstock. 

1765 Ezekiel Comstock. 

1774 to 1778 Col. John Sayles, Jr. 

1779 Col. John Sayles, Jr. 

1780 Gideon Comstock. 

1781 to 1789 Col. John Sayles, Jr. 

1790 « Sylvanns Sayles. 

1791 to 1795 Peleg Arnold. 

Senators. 

1806 to 1808 James Aldrich. 

1810 Daniel Mowry, Jr. 

1812 to 1816 Eobert Harris. 

1817 to 1819 Thomas Buffum. 

1831 to 1832 Stephen Steere. 

1833 to 1834 Isaac Wilkinson. 

1835 Stephen Steere. 

1836 to 1837 Daniel Angell. 

1838 to 1841 Ezekiel Fowler. 

1842 Sessions Mowry. 

1843 Isaac Wilkinson. 

1844 Sessions Mowry. 

1845 Daniel Pearce. 

1846 to 1847 Thomas Mann. 



164 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 

1848 to 1849 Gideon Bradford. 

1 850 Thomas Buffum. 

1850 to 1852 Gideon Bradford. 

1853 to 1854 Robert Harris. 

1855 to 1856 Stephen N. Mason. 

1857 - Daniel N. Paine. 

1858 to 1859 Stephen N". Mason. 

1860 to 1861 , William S. Slater. 

1862 Stephen N. Mason. 

1863 to 1864 Bradbury C. Hill. 

1865 to 1866 Charles Moies. 

1867 George C. Ballon. 

1868 to 1869 Lysander Flagg. 

1870 Edward L. Freeman. 



APPEN DIX C 



LIST OF DEPUTIES AND REPRESENTATIVES IN THE GENERAL 
ASSEMBLY FROM SMITHFIELD. 





Deputies. 






1731. 




May Session, 
October, 


Jonathan Sprague, 
Capt. Silvanus Scott, 

1732. 


William Arnold. 
Daniel Jencks. ^ — . — 


May, 

October, 


Jonathan Sprague, 
James Alclrich, 

1733. 


James Aldrich. 
Daniel Jencks. 


May, 

October, 


Daniel Jencks, 
same, 

1734. 


James Aldrich. 
same. 


May, 

October, 


Daniel Jencks, 
Maj. William Smith, 

1735. 


Capt. Joseph Mo wry, 
Daniel Jencks. 


May, 

October, 


Maj. William Smith, 
Maj. William Smith, 

1736. 


James Aldrich. 
Daniel Jencks. 


May, 
October, 


Daniel Jencks, 
Maj. William Smith, 

1737. 


Thomas Sayles. 
same. 


May, 
October, 


Thomas Sayles, 
same, 

1738. 


Daniel Jenckes. 
same. 


May, 
October, 


Thomas Sayles, 
Capt. Richard Sayles, 


William Arnold, 
same. 



166 



HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 





1739. 




May, 


Resolved Waterman, 


William Jenckesr- 


July, 
October. 


same, 
John Ballou, 

1740. 


same. 
Thomas Lapham. 


May, 

October. 


Resolved Waterman, 
same, 

1741. 


Daniel Comstock. 
same. 


May, 

October. 


Resolved Waterman, 
same, 

1742. 


John Sayles. 
same. 


May, 

October, 


James Aid rich, 
Daniel Jencks, 

1743. 


John Sayles. 
Thomas Steere. 


May, 
October. 


Thomas Steere, 

Maj. William Smith. 

1744. 


David Comstock. 
Thomas Steere. 


May. 

October, 


Maj. William Smith, 
David Comstock, 

1745. 


Thomas Steere. 
David Wilkinson. 


May, 

October, 


John Sayles, 
same, 

1746. 


Thomas Arnold. 
same. 


May, 

October, 


Thomas Steere. 
same, 


David Comstock. 
same. 




1747. 




May. 
October. 


Thomas Lapham, 
same, 

1148. 


Jonathan Arnold. 
-a me. 


May. 
October, 


Jonathan Arnold, 
same, 

1749. 


Israel Wilkinson. 

same. 


May, 
October, 


Thomas Lapham, 
Lieut. Thomas Arnold, 

1 750. 


John Aldrich. 
same. 


May. 
October. 


Thomas Lapham, 
same, 


Lieut. Thomas Arnold 
John Aldrich. 



HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 



167 



1751. 



May, 
October. 


Thomas Arnold, 
Thorns Arnold, 

1752. 


John Aldrich. 
same. 


May, 

October, 


Thomas Arnold, 
same, 

1753. 


John Aldrich. 
Thomas Lapham. 


May, 

October, 


John Aldrich, 
Thomas Arnold, 

1754. 


Thomas Owen. 
same. 


May, 
October, 


Thomas Arnold, 
David Comstock, 

1755. 


Jonathan Arnold 
John Aldrich. 


May, 

October, 


John Aldrich, 
Jonathan Arnold, 

1756. 


Jonathan Arnold 
Thomas Owen. 


May, 

October, 


Thomas Owen, 
same. 

1757. 


John Sayles, Jr. 
same. 


May, 

October, 


Thomas Arnold, 
same. 


Jeremiah Mowry. 
same. 



1758. 
Thomas Arnold, 

1759. 
Thomas Arnold, 
John Sayles, Jr., 
Joseph Mowry, Jr. 
John Sayles, Jr., 
Thomas Arnold, 

1760. 
Thomas Arnold, 
Day before general election — 
May, Thomas Arnold, 

June, same, - 

August, same, 

October, Baulston Braytou, 

December, same, 



February, 

May, 

June, 

August, 

October, 

February, 



Jeremiah Mowry. 

Jeremiah Mowry. 
Joseph Mowry, Jr. 

Joseph Mowry, Jr. 
same. 

Joseph Mowry, Jr. 

same, 
same, 
same. 
Capt. Joseph Mowry. 
same. 



168 



HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 



February, 


1761. 

Baulston Brayton, 


Capt. Joseph Mowry 


March, 


same, 


same. 


May, 


same, 


same. 


June, 


same, 


same. 


October, 


same, 


same. 



1762. 

February, Thomas Arnold, 

March special session, Thomas Arnold. 



Baulston Brayton. 



May, 


Thomas Arnold, 


Jonathan Arnold. 


June, 


same, 


same. 


August, 


same, 


same. 


September, 


same, 


same. 


October, 


same, 

1763. 


same. 


February, 


Thomas Arnold, 


Jonathan Arnold. 


May, 


Caleb Aldrich, 


Stephen Whipple. 


June, 


same, 


same. 


August, 


Stephen Whipple. 




October, 


Joseph Mowry, 

1764. 


Samuel Winsor. 


January, 


None. 




February, 


Capt. Joseph Mowry, 


Samuel Winsor. 


May, 


same, 


same. 


June, 


Samuel Winsor. 




Special Session 


— ■ 




July, 


Capt. Joseph Mowry, Jr., 


Samuel Winsor. 


September, 


same, 


same. 


October, 


David Comstock, 


Samuel Winsor. 


November, 


same, 

1705. 


same. 


May, 


Thomas Steere, 


Samuel Winsor. 


June, 


same, 


same. 


September, 


same, 


same. 


October, 


same, 

1766. 


Daniel Mowry, Jr 


February, 


Thomas Steere, 


Daniel Mowry, Jr 


May, 


same, 


same, 


June, 


same, 


same, 



HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 



169 



September, 


Thomas Steere, 


Daniel Mowry, Jr. 


October, 


same, 


same. 


December, 


same, 

1767. 


same. 


May, 


Samuel Winsor, 


Stephen Whipple. 


June, 2 Sessions, same, 


same. 


August, 


same, 

1768. 


same. 


February, 


Samuel Winsor, 


John Farnum. 


May, 


Thomas Lapham, 


Daniel Smith. 


June, 


same, 


same. 


September, 


same, 

1769. 


same. 


February, 


Caleb Aldrich, 


Daniel Mowry, Jr. 


May, 


same, 


same. 


June, 


same, 


same. 


September, 


same, 


same. 


October, 


same, 

1770. 


Stephen Whipple. 


May, 


Caleb Aldrich, 


Daniel Mowry, Jr. 


June, 


same, 


same. 


September, 


same, 


same. 


October, 


same, 

1 rVi*y 1 


same. 


May, 


1771. 

. Caleb Aldrich, 


Daniel Mowry, Jr. 


June, 


same, 


same. 


August, 


same, 


same. 


October, 


Daniel Mowry, Jr., 

1772. 


Welcome Arnold. 


May, 


Welcome Arnold. 




August, 


Samuel Winsor, 


Welcome Arnold. 


October, 


same, 


Daniel Mowry, Jr. 


December, 


same, 

1773. 


same. 


January, 


Samuel Winsor, 


Daniel Mowry, Jr. 


May, 


Daniel Mowry, Jr., 


Capt. Jonathan Arnold 


August, 


same, 


same. 


October, 


Israel Wilkinson, 


William Winsor. 



22 



170 



HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 



1774. 



Israel Wilkinson, 



May, 

June, same, 

August, same, 

October, same, 

December, Special, same, 



William Winsor. 
same, 



same, 
same, 
same. 



1775. 



April, Special, Israel Wilkinson. 
May, Daniel Mowry, Jr., 



Stephen Whipple. 



June, 


same, 


same. 


August, 


same, 


same. 


October, 


Arnold Paine, 

1776. 


same. 


January, 


Arnold Paine, 


Stephen Whipple. 


February, 


same, 


same. 


March, 


same, 


same. 


May, 


Daniel Mowry, Jr., 


Capt. Andrew Waterman 


June, 


same, 


same. 


July, 


same, 


same. 


August, 


same, 


same. 


September, 


same, 


same. 


October, 


Daniel Mowry, Jr. 




Special — 






November, 


Daniel Mowry, Jr., 


Capt. Andrew Waterman. 


December, 


same. 

1777. 




February, 


Daniel Mowry, Jr., 


Capt. Andrew Waterman 


March, 


same, 


same. 


April, 


same, 


same. 


May, 


Samuel Winsor, 




2d Session — 






May, 


Samuel Winsor, 


Ezekiel Angell. 


June, 


same, 


same. 


July, Special, 


same, 


same. 


August, 


same, 


same. 


September, 


same, 




( k-tober, 


Caleb Aid rich, 


Pel eg Arnold. 


December, 


same. 


same. 


Special Session 


. — 




December, 


same, 


same. 



HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 



171 



1778. 



February, 


Peleg Arnold. 




March, 


Caleb Aldrich, 


Peleg Arnold. 


May, 


same, 


same. 


May, Special, 


same, 


same. 


June, 


same, 


same. 


September, 


Caleb Aldrich, 




October, 


Daniel Mowry, 


Caleb Aldrich. 


December, 


same, 

1779. 


same. 


Special — 






January, 


Daniel Mowry, 


Caleb Aldrich. 


February, 


same, 


same. 


May, 


Andrew Waterman, 


Jonathan Comstock 


June, 


Andrew Waterman. 




August, 


same, 


same. 


September, 


same, 


same. 


October, 


Sylvanus Sayles, 


same. 


December, 


same, 


same. 



1780. 



February. Sylvanus Sayles. 

March Special, same, 



Jonathan Comstock. 



1781. 



January, 


Elisha Mowry, . 


Edward Thompson 


February, 


same, 


same. 


March, 


same, 


same. 


2d Session — 






May, 


Andrew Waterman, 


Henry Jenckes. 


Special Session 


— 




July, 


same, 


same. 


August, 


same, 


same. 


October, 


Stephen Arnold. 




December, 


same. 

1782, 




January, 


Luke Arnold, 


Stephen Arnold. 


Special Session 






February, 


same, 


same. 


May, 


William Waterman, 


Peleg Arnold. 


June, 


same, 


same. 


August, 


same, 


same. 



172 



HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 



October, 


Elisha Mowry, 


Peleg Arnold. 


November, 


same, 

1 I CO. 


same. 


February, 


Elisha Mowry, 


Peleg Arnold. 


May, . 


same, 


Stepben Arnold, Jr. 


June, 


same, 


same. 


October, 


Stephen Arnold, 


William Waterman. 


December, 


Stephen Arnold, Jr. 






1784. 




February, 


Stephen Arnold, Jr., 


William Waterman. 


May, 


Stephen Arnold, 


Elisha Mowry. 


June, 


same, 


same. 


August, 


same. 




October, 


Stephen Arnold, Jr., 
1785. 


William Aldrich. 


February, 


Stephen Arnold, Jr., 


William Aldrich. 


May, 


same, 


same. 


June, 


same, 


same. 


August, 


Stephen Arnold. 




October, 


Stephen Arnold, Jr., 
1786. 


Daniel Mowry, Jr. 


February, 


Stephen Arnold, Jr., 


Daniel Mowrv. 

%i 


March, 


Stephen Arnold, 


same. 


May, 






June, 


John Sayles, 


Andrew Waterman. 


August, 


same, 


same. 


October, 


same, 


same. 


December, 


same, 


same. 




1787. 


• 


March, 


John Sayles, 


Andrew Waterman. 


May, 


same, 


same. 


June, 


same, 


same. 


Special Session 






September, 


same, 


same. 


October, 


same, 

1788. 


same. 


February, 


John Sayles, 


Andrew Waterman, 


March, 


same, 


same, 


May, 


same, 


same. 



HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 



173 



June, 


Andrew Waterman, 




October, 


John Sayles, 




Andrew Waterman, 


December, 


same. 


1780. 


same. 


March, 


John Sayles, 




Andrew Waterman. 


May, 


same, 




same. 


June, 


same, 




same. 


September, 


same, 




same. 


October, 


same, 




same. 


Oct. 2d session 


, same, 


1190. 


Stephen Whipple. 


January, 


John Sayles, 




Stephen Whipple. 


May, 


same, 




Mr. Job Aldrich. 


June, 


same, 




same. 


September, 


same, 




same. 


October, 


same, 


1791. 


same. 


February, 


John Sayles, 




Job Aldrich. 


May, 


same, 




same, 


June, 


same, 




same, 


October, 


Daniel Mo wry, 


1792. 


same. 


February, 


Daniel Mowry, 




Job Aldrich. 


May, 


John Smith, 




Arnold Paine. 


June, 


same, 




same. 


August, 


same, 




same. 


October, 


same. 


1793. 


same. 


February, 


John Smith, 




Arnold Paine. 


May, 


John Smith, Ji 


•> 


same. 


June, 


same, 




same. 


October, 


Arnold Paine, 


1794. 


Henry Jenckes. 


February, 


Arnold Paine, 




Henry Jenckes. 


March, 


same, 




same. 


May, 


same, 




same. 


June, 


John Paine, 




same. 


October, 


same, 




same. 



174 



HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELR 



1795. 



January, 


John Paine. 






May, 


same, 




Henry Jenckes. 


June, 


same, 




same. 


October, 


Job Aldrich, 


179G. 


Joshua Jenckes. 


February, 


Job Aldrich, 




Joshua Jenckes. 


May, 


same, 




same. 


June, 


same, 




same. 


October, 


same. 




same. 




Representati 


ves. 






1797. 




February, 


Job Aldrich, 




Joshua Jenckes. 


May, 


same, 




same. 


June, 


same, 




same. 


October, 


same, 




same. 


December, 


same, 


1798. 


same. 


January, 


Job Aldrich, 




Joshua Jenckes. 


May, 


same. 




William Mowry. 


June, 


same, 




same. 


October, 


same, 


1799. 


same. 


February, 


Job Aldrich, 




William Mowry. 


May, 


William Mowry. 


i 


Ezekiel Comstock, 


June, 


same, 




same. 


October, 


same, 


1800. 


same. 


February, 


William Mowry, 




Ezekiel Comstock, 


May, 


same,. 




same. 


June, 


same, 




same. 


October, 


same, 


1801. 


Thomas Mann, 


February, 


William Mowry, 




Thomas Mann. 


May, 


same, 




same. 


June, 


same, 




same. 


October, 


same, 




same. 



HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 



175 



1802. 



February, 


William Mowry 




Thomas Mann, 


May, 


Robert Harris, 




same . 


June, 


same, 




same. 


October, 


same, 


1803.. 


. same. 


February, 


Robert Harris, 




Thomas Mann. 


May, 2 sessions, same, 




same. 


October, 


same, 


1804. 


same. 


February, 


Robert Harris, 




Thomas Mann. 


May, 


same, 




same. 


June, 


same, 




same. 


October, 


same, 


1805. 


same. 


February, 


Robert Harris, 




Thomas Mann. 


May, 


same, 




same. 


June, 


same, 




same. 


October, 


same, 


1806. 


same. 


February, 


Robert Harris, 




Thomas Mann, 


May, 


same, 




same. 


June, 


same, 




Fnos Mowry. 


October, 


same, 


1807. 


same. 


February, 


Robert Harris, 




Enos Mowry. 


May, 


same, 




Daniel Angell. 


June, 


same, 




same. 


October, 


same, 


1808. 


same. 


February, 


Robert Harris, 




Enos Mowry. 


May, 


same, 




same. 


June, 


same, 




same. 


October. 


same, 


1809. 


same. 


February, 


Robert Harris, 




Enos Mowry. 


March, 


same, 




same. 


May, 


same, 




John Angell, Jr 


June, 


same, 




same. 


October, 


Daniel Mowry, 


Jr., 


Isaac Wilkinson 



176 



HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 



1810. 



February, 


Daniel Mo wry, Jr., 


May, 


Isaac Wilkinson, 


June, 


Daniel Angell. 


October, 


Isaac Wilkinson. 

* 1 O 1 


February, 


18J 
Isaac Wilkinson, 


May, 


same, 


June, 


same, 


October, 


Thomas Mann, 


February, 


181 
Thomas Mann, 


May, 


same, 


June, 


same, 



July, special session, same, 
October, same, 



1813. 



February, 


Thomas Mann, 


May, 


same, 


June, 


same, 


October, 


same, 


February, 


Thomas Mann, 


May, 


^iiiie, 


June, 


sanfe, 


Sept., special, 


same. 


October, 


same, 


February, 


Thomas Mann, 


May, 


Elisha Steere. 


June, 


same. 


October, 


same, 


February, 


Elisha Steere, 


May, 


same. 


June, 


same. 


October, 


same, 



1814. 



1815. 



1816. 



Isaac Wilkinson, 
Daniel Angell. 

Daniel Angell. 



Daniel Angell. 
same. 
same, 
same. 



Daniel Angell. 

same. 

same. 

same. 
Benjamin Hall, 



Benjamin Hall, 
same, 
same, 
same. 

Benjamin Hall, 
same, 
same. 

Elisha Steere. 
Elisha Steere. 

Marcus Arnold. 
Marcus Arnold. 

Isaac Wilkinson. 



HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 



177 



1817. 



February, 


Elisha Steere. 




May, 


Isaac Wilkinson, 


Nathan B. Sprague. 


June, 


same, 


same. 


October, 


Peleg Arnold, 

1818. 


same. 


February, 


Nathan B. Sprague. 




May, 


Peleg Arnold, 


Nathan B. Sprague. 


June, 


same, 


same. 


October, 


same, 

1819. 


same. 


February, 


Nathan B. Sprague, 




May, 


same, 


Nathan Aldrich. 


June, 


same, 


same. 


October, 


same, 

1820. 


same. 


February, 


Nathan B. Sprague, 


Nathan Aldrich. 


May, 


same, 


same. 


June, 


same, 


same. 


October, 


same, 


Daniel Angell. 




1821. Special 


session. 


January, 


Nathan B. Sprague, 


Daniel Angell. 


February, 


same, 


same. 


May, 


Daniel Winsor, 


Daniel Angell. 


June. 


same, 


same. 


October, 


same, 

1822. 


same. 


January, 


Daniel Winsor, 


Daniel Angell. 


May, 


Daniel Angell. 


Nathan B. Sprague 


J une, 


same, 


same. 


October, 


Nathan B. Sprague, 
1823. 


Nathan Aldrich. 


January, 


Nathan B. Sprague. 


Nathan Aldrich. 


May, 


same, 


same. 


June, 


same, 


same. 


October, 


same, 


same. ' 



23 



178 



HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 



1824. 

January, Nathan B. Sprague, 

May, same, 

May, 2d session, same, 
October, same, 



Nathan Aldrich. 
same. 

Nathan Aldrich. 





1825. 




January, 


Nathan B. Sprague. 




May, 


• same, 


Arnold Spear. 


June, 


same, 


same. 


October, 


same. 

1826. 


same. 


January, 


Nathan B. Sprague, 


Arnold Spear. 


May, 


same, 


same. 


June, 


same, 


same. 


October, 


same, 


same. 




Representatives. 




1824. 






Nathan B. Sprag 


ue. 




1825. 






Nathan B. Sprague, 


Arnold Spear. 




1826. 






Nathan B. Sprague, 


Arnold Spear. 




1827. 






Nathan B. Sprague, 


Arnold Spear. 




1828. 






Arnold Spear. 


Stephen Steere. 




1829. 






Stephen Steere, 


Morton Mowry 




1830. 






Stephen Steere, 


Morton Mowry. 




1831. 






Elisha Smith, 


Ezekiel Fowler. 




1832. 






Elisha Smith, 


Ezekiel Fowler. 



HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 



179 



1833. 



Ezckiel Fowler. 



1834. 



Arnold Spear, 



1835. 



Ezekiel Fowler, 



1836. 



1840. 



Sessions Mowry, 



1841. 



Sessions Mowry, 



1842. 



Sessions Mowry, 



Daniel Wilkinson. 



Daniel G. Harris. 



Sessions Mowry 



May. 
June, 


Sessions Mown , 
Isaac Wilkinson. 


John Paine. 
Asa Winsor. 


October. 


same, 

1837. 


same. 


January, 


Isaac Wilkinson, 


Asa Winsor. 


May, 

June, 

October, 


same, 
same, 
Sessions Mowry, 

1838. 


same, 
same. 
Nathan Andrews 


January. 

May, 


Sessions Mowry. 


Samuel Clarke. 


June, 


same. 


same. 


October, 


same, 

1839. 


same. 


January, 


Sessions Mowry, 


Samuel Clarke. 


May, 
June, 


same, 
same, 


same, 
same. 


October, 


same, 


same. 



Thomas Buffum, 
David Wilbur, 



1843. 

Richard Mowry, 
James Harkness, 

1844. 



George C. Ballon, Elisha Steere, 

Bradbury C. Hill, Charles Moies, 



Samuel Clarke. 

Samuel Clarke. 

Samuel Clarke. 

Jonathan Cole, 
Pardon Angell. 

George Aldrich, 
Nathan Spalding. 



180 



HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 



Thomas Buffum, 
Robert Harris, 



Thomas Buffum, 
James Harkness, 



Thomas Buffum, 
Gideon Bradford, 

Daniel Pearce, 
Israel Sayles, 

Thomas Buffum, 
Israel Sayles, 



Robert Harris, 
Emor H. Smith, 



Thomas Buffum, 
Earl A. Wright, 



Robert Harris, 
Thomas Steere, 



Israel Sayles, 
Thomas Steere, 



Edwin Harris, 
Edwin W. Mowry, 



Nathaniel Snaulding, 
Ansel Holman, 



1845. 

Elisha Smith, 
James Harkness, 

184G. 

Emor H. Smith, 
Robert Harris, 

1847. 



1848. 

John Fenner, 
Alden Coe, 

1849. 

Robert Harris, 
Henry Gooding, 

1850. 

Israel Sayles, 
Earl A. Wright, . 

1851. 

Daniel Pearce, 
James Phetteplace, 

1852. 

Daniel Pearce, 
Elisha Mowry, 2d, 

1853. 

John Fenner, 
Elisha Mowry, 2d,- 

1854. 

Henry Gooding, 
Elisha Mowry, 2d, 

1855. 

Charles Moies, 
Daniel T. Eddy, 



Gideon Bradford, 
Nelson B. Jencks. 



Gideon Bradford, 
Nelson B. Jencks. 

Emor H. Smith, 
James Harkness. 



Amasa Smith, 
Edwin W. Mowry. 



John Fenner, 
George B. Aldrich. 



Samuel S. Mallory, 
Emor Coe. 



John Fenner, 
Israel B. Purinton. 



John Fenner, 
Israel B. Purinton. 



Emor Coe, 
Samuel D. Slocum. 



Smith R. Mowry, 
Henry S. Pearce. 



Jeremiah J. Young, 
Henry G. Pearce. 



HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 



181 



Lysander Flagg, 
Nathaniel Spaulding, 



Lysander Flagg, 
Nathaniel Spaulding, 



Lysander Flagg, 
Nathaniel Spaulding, 



James A. Barnes, 
Jabez W. Mowry, 

James A, Barnes, 
Jabez W. Mowry, 

Bailies Bourne, 
Jabez W. Mowry, 



1856. 

Ansel Holman, 
William P. Steere, 

1857. 

Jonathan Barnes, 
William P. Steere, 

1858. 

Jonathan Barnes, 
William P. Steere, 

1859. 

Harris M. Irons, 
William Newell, 

1860. 

Bradbury C. Hill, 
William Newell, 

1861. 

Bradbury C. Hill, 
William Newell, 



Henry G. Pearce, 
Jeremiah J. Young. 



James H. Chace, 
Sullivan Ballou. 



William Newell, 
Sullivan Ballou. 



Daniel Mowry, 
Albert C. Vose. 



Simon S. Steere, 
Albert C. Vose. 



Harris M. Irons, 
Carlisle Vose, 





1862. 


Bradbury C. Hill, 
Jabez W. Mowry, 


Carlisle Vose, 
Joseph Olney, 




1863. 


David Ballou, 
Jabez W. Mowry, 


Carlisle Vose, 
Joseph Olney, 




1864. 


Joseph Olney, 
Anthony Steere, 


Stafford W. Eazee, 
Lyman A. Taft, 




1865. 


Daniel E. Ballou, 
Simon B. Mowry, 


Horace Daniels, 
Spencer Mowry, 




1866. 


Daniel P. Ballou, 
Benjamin F. Greene, 


Elisha W. Brown, 
Elmer N. Maynard, 



William Newell, 
Simon S. Steere. 



Stafford W. Razee, 
Harris M. Irons. 



George W. Holt, 
Daniel Sayles, 

George W. Holt, 
William T. Smith. 



Benjamin Comstock, 
Spencer Mowry. 



182 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 

1867. 

Daniel R. Ballon, Lysander Flagg, Benjamin Oomstock, 

Jabez W. Mo wry, Spencer Mowry, Obed Paine. 

1868. 

Elmer N. Maynard, Arlon Mowry, Obed Paine, 
Benjamin Oomstock, Edward L. Freeman, Jabez W. Mowry. 

1860. 

Jabez W. Mowry, Arlon Mowry, Baylies Bourne, 
'Edward L. Freeman, William H. Seagiaves, William D. Aldrieb. 

1870. 

Jabez W. Mowry, Arlon Mowry, William H. Seagraves. 

William D. Aldrieb, Edward A. Brown, Cyrus Arnold. 



APPENDIX D 



TOWN COUNCIL. 

1731. 

President: John Arnold. 
Joseph Mowry, Thomas Steere, Samuel Aldrich, 

John Mowry, Benjamin Smith. 

1732. 

President: John Arnold. 
Joseph Mowry, John Mowry, Elisha Smith, 

Thomas Shippy, Thomas Sayles. 

1733. 

President: Major William Smith. 
Joseph Mowry, Joseph Arnold, Thomas Shippy, 

James Aldrich, John Dexter. 

1734. 

President: Thomas Steere. 
Joseph Mowry, • Joseph Arnold, Thomas Shippy, 

Thomas Smith, Jr., John Dexter. 

1735. 

President: Major William Smith. 
Joseph Arnold, James Aldrich, Job Whipple, 

David Comstock, John Brown. 

1736. 

President: Major Wjlliam Smith. 
John Whipple, David Comstock, John Brown, 

Lieut. Joseph Smith, Benjamin Pain. 



184 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 

1737. 

President: Thomas Sayles. 
William Arnold, John Brown, Thomas Steere, 

Benjamin Pain, John Dexter. 

1738. 

President: Thomas Sayles. 
William Arnold, John Brown, Thomas Steere, 

Benjamin Pain, John Dexter. 

1739. 

/ 

President: Thomas Steere. 
Thomas Shippy, John Brown, John Dexter, 

Jonathan Arnold, William Jenckes. 

1740. 

President: Thomas Steere. 
Thomas Shippy, John Brown, John Dexter, 

Jonathan Arnold, William Jenckes. 

1741. 

President: Thomas Steere. 
Thomas Shippy, John Brown, John Dexter, 

Jonathan Arnold, William Jenckes. 

1742. 

President: Thomas Steere. 
Thomas Shippy, John Brown, John Dexter, 

Jonathan Arnold, William Jenckes. 

1743. 

President: Thomas Steere. 
Thomas Shippy, John Brown, John Dexter, 

Jonathan Arnold, William Jenckes. 

1744. 

President: Thomas Steere. 
Thomas Shippy, John Brown, John Dexter, 

Jonathan Arnold, Jr., William Jenckes. 

1745. 

President: Thomas Steere. 
Thomas Shippy, David Comstock, Israel Wilkinson, 

Jonathan Arnold, William Jenckes, 



HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 185 

1746. 

President: Thomas Steere. 
Thomas Shippy, David Comstock, Israel Wilkinson, 

Jonathan Arnold, William Jenckes. 

1747. 
President: Jos eph Smith_ 
Jeremiah Mowry, Eobert Staples, Thomas Owen, 

Capt. Daniel Mowry, John Aldrich. 

1748. 
President: Lieut. Thomas Arnold. 
Thomas Owen, John Aldrich, John Jenckes, 

Capt. Daniel Mowry, Benjamin Arnold. 

1749. 

President: Thomas Steere. 
Thomas Owen, John Aldrich, John Jenckes, 

Capt. Daniel Mowry, Benjamin Arnold. 

1750, 

President: Thomas Steere. 
John Aldrich, Dr. John Jenckes, Capt. Daniel Mowry, 

Baulston Brayton, Preserved Harris. 

1751. 

President: Thomas Steere. 
John Aldrich, Dr. John Jenckes. Capt. Daniel Mowry, 

Baulston Brayton, Preserved Harris. 

1752, 

President: Thomas Steere. 
John Aldrich, Dr. John Jenckes, Capt. Daniel Mowry, 

Baulston Brayton, Preserved Harris. 

1753. 

President: Thomas Steere. 
John Aldrich, Dr. John Jenckes, Capt. Daniel Mown. 

Baulston Brayton, Preserved Harris. 

1754. 

President: Thomas Steere. 
John Aldrich, Dr. John Jenckes, Capt. Daniel Mowry, 

David Comstock, Preserved Harris. 

24 



18(3 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 

1755. 
President: Thomas Steere. 
John Aldrich, Dr. John Jenckes, John Sayles, 

David Comstock, Preserved Harris. 

1750. 

President: Thomas Steere. 
John Aldrich, Dr. John Jenckes, Capt. Daniel Mowry, 

David Comstock, Preserved Harris. 

1757. 

President: Thomas Steere. 
John Aldrich, Dr. John Jenckes, Capt. Daniel Mowry, 

David Comstock, Preserved Harris. 

1758. 

President: Thomas Steere. 
John Aldrich, Dr. John Jenckes, Capt. Daniel Mowry, 

David Comstock, Preserved Harris. 

1759. 

President: Thomas Steere. 
John Aldrich, Dr. John Jenckes, Capt. Daniel Mowry, 

David Comstock, Preserved Harris. 

1760. 

President: Thomas Steere. 
John Aldrich, Dr. John Jenckes, Capt. Daniel Mowry, 

David Comstock, Preserved Harris. 

1761. 

President: Thomas Steere. 
Ezekiel Angell, William Jenckes, Capt. Daniel Mowry, 

David Comstock, Preserved Harris. 

1702. 

President: Thomas Steere. 
Ezekiel Angell, William Jenckes, Capt. Daniel Mowry, 

David Comstock, Preserved Harris. 

1763. 
President: Thomas Steere. 
Ezekiel Angell, William Jenckes, Capt. Daniel Mowry, 

David Comstock, Preserved Harris. 



HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 187 

1764. 

President: Thomas Steere. 
Ezekiel Angel], William Jenckes, Capt. Daniel Mowry, 

David Comstock, Preserved Harris. 

1765. 
Preside nt: Thomas Steere. 
Ezekiel Angell, William Jenckes, Capt. Daniel Mowry. 

David Comstock, Preserved Harris. 

1766. 
President: Thomas Steere. 
Ezekiel Angell, Thomas Lapham. Capt. Daniel Mowry, 

David Comstock, Preserved Harris. 

1767. 
President: Thomas Steere. 
Ezekiel Angell, Thomas Lapham, Capt. Daniel Mowry, 

Stephen Arnold, Preserved Harris. 



1768. 
President: Thomas Steere. 
John Sayles, Thomas Lapham, Caleb Aldrich, 

Stephen~Arnold, Preserved Harris. 

1769. 

President: Thomas Steere. 
John Sayles, Thomas Lapham, Caleb Aldrich, 

Stephen Arnold, Preserved Harris. 

1770. 

President: Thomas Steere. 
John Sayles, Thomas Lapham, Caleb Aldrich, 

Stephen Arnold, Preserved Harris. 

1771. 

President: Thomas Steere. 
John Sayles, Thomas Lapham, Caleb Aldrich, 

Stephen Arnold, Preserved Harris. 

1772. 

President: Thomas Steere. 
John Sayles, Caleb Aldrich, Stephen Arnold. 

Preserved Harris, Stephen Whipple. 



188 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 

1773. 

President: John Sayles. 
Caleb Aldrich, Preserved Harris, Job Aldrich. 

1774. 

President: Ezekiel Comstock. 
Caleb Aldrich, Job Aldrich, Abraham Mathewson, 

Henry Jenckes, Jonathan Gnlley. 

1775. 

President: Ezekiel Comstock. 
Job Aldrich, Abraham Mathewson, Henry Jenckes, 

Jonathan Gulley, Jeremiah Harris. 

1776. 

President: Ezekiel Comstock. 
Job Aldrich, Abraham Mathewson, Henry Jenckes, 

Jonathan Gnlley, John Man. 

1777. 
President: Henry Jenckes. 
Daniel Smith, John Man, Stephen Brayton, 

Jonathan Comstock, Stephen Arnold. 

1778. 

President: Henry Jenckes. 
Daniel Smith, John Man, Stephen Brayton, 

Sylvanns Sayles, Stephen Arnold. 

1779. 

President: Capt. Sylvanns Sayles. 
John Man, Stephen Arnold, Edward Thompson, 

William Waterman, Arnold Pain. 

1780. 

President: Caleb Aldrich. 
John Man, Stephen Whipple, Edward Thompson, 

Arnold Pain, Job Aldrich. 

1781. 

President: Caleb Aldrich. 
John Man, Stephen Whipple, Edward Thompson, 

Arnold Pain, Abraham Mathewson. 



HTSTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 189 

1782. 

President: Caleb Aldrich. 
Stephen Whipple, Edward Thompson, Arnold Pain, 

Abraham Mathcwson, John Angell. 

1783. 
President: Caleb Aldrich. 
Jesse Jenckes, Edward Thompson, Arnold Pain, 

John Angell, James Smith. 

1784. 

President: Caleb Aldrich. 
Jesse Jenckes, Edward Thompson, Arnold Pain, 

John Angell," James Smith. 

1785. 

President: Daniel Mowry, Jr. 
Jesse Jenckes, Stephen Whipple, John Angell, 

James Smith, Philip Mowry. 

1786. 

President: Daniel Mowry, Jr. 
Jesse Jenckes, James Smith, Philip Mowry, Jr., 

John Man, Jr., Robert Latham. 

1787. 
President: Daniel Mowry, Jr. 
Jesse Jenckes, James Smith. Philip Mowry, Jr., 

John Man, Jr., Robert Latham. 

1788. 
President: Daniel Mowry, Jr. 
Jesse Jenckes, James Smith, Philip Mowry, Jr., 

John Man, Jr., Robert Latham. 

1789. 

President: William Waterman. 
Jesse Jenckes, James Appleby, Arnold Pain, 

John Man, Jr., Robert Lathan. 

1790. 

President: Joseph Farnnm. 
Jesse Jenckes, James Appleby, Arnold Pain, 

John Man, Jr., Emor Smith. 



190 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 

1791. 

President: Joseph Farnum. 
Jesse Jenckes, James Appleby, Arnold Pain. 

John" Man, Jr., Eraor Smith. 

1792. 

President: George Comstock. 
Jesse Jenckes, James Appleby, Arnold Pain, 

John Man, Jr., Joseph Mowry. 

1793. 

President: George Comstock. 
Jesse Jenckes, James Appleby, Arnold Pain, 

John Man, Jr., Joseph Mowry, 

1791. 

President: Oapt. Sylvanus Sayles. 
Samuel Clark, Job Aldrich, Thomas Aldrich, 

Elisha Olney, Philip Mowry. 

1795. 

President: Capt. Sylvanns Sayles. 
Samuel Clark, Job Aldrich, Thomas Aldrich, 

Elisha Olney, Philip Mowry. 

1796. 

President: Capt. Sylvanus Sayles. 
Samuel Clark, Duty Winsor, Daniel Smith, Jr.. 

John Man, Jr., Ezekiel Comstock. 

1797. 
President: Samuel Clark. 
Duty Winsor, John Man, Ezekiel Comstock, 

Israel Taft, Seth Mowry. 

179S. 
President: Samuel Clark. 
Duty Winsor, John Man, Ezekiel Comstock, 

Israel Taft, Seth Mowry. 

1799. 

President: Samuel Clark. 
Edward Med bury, John'Man, John Jenckes, 

John Pain, Seth Mowry, Elisha Olney. 



HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 



191 



Edward Medbury, 
John Pain, 



John Man, 
Richard Buffum, 



Seth Mowry, 
Daniel Winsor, 



Seth Mo wry, 
Enos Mowry, 



Seth Mowry, 
Enos Mowry, 



Seth Mowry, 
Job Arnold, 



Seth Mowry, 
Thomas Buffum, 



Elisha Steere, 
Nathan Aldrich, 



Elisha Steere, 
Nathan Aldrich, 



1800. 

President: Duty Winsor. 
John Man, John Jenekes, 

Seth Mowry, Ahab Mowry. 

1801. 

President: John Jenekes. 
Seth Mowry, Ahab Mowry, 

Daniel Winsor, Elijah Arnold. 

1802. 

President: Thomas Mann. 

Ahab Mowry, Richard Buffum, 

None, No sixth councilman. 

1803. 

President: Thomas Mann. 

Richard Buffum, Samuel Hill, Jr., 

Elijah Derry, Job Arnold. 

1804. 

/'resident: Thomas Mann. 

Stephen Buffum, Samuel Hill, Jr., 

Thomas Appleby, William Aldrich. 

1805. 
President: Thomas Mann. 

Samuel Hill, Jr., Enos Mowry, 

Thomas Buffum, Benjamin Hall. 

1806. 

President: Samuel Hill. 
Enos Mowry, Job Arnold, 

Benjamin Hall, David Harris. 

1807. 

President: Samuel Hill. 
Enos Mowry, Job Arnold, 

Benjamin Hall, David Harris. 

1808. 



I 'resilient: Samuel Hill. 



Enos Mowry, 
Benjamin Hall, 



Job Arnold, 
David Harris, 



192 



HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 



Elisha Steere, 
David Harris, 



Elisha Steere, 
Daniel Harris, 



Elisha Steere, 
James Appleby, 



Elisha Steere, 
James Appleby, 



Elisha Steere, 
James Appleby, 



Elisha Steere, 
Stephen Buffum, 



Daniel Angell, 
Thomas Angell, 



Thomas Angell, 
Reuben Mowrv, 



Thomas Angell, 
David Wilkinson, 



1809. 

President: Thomas Mann. 

Nathan Aldrich, Benjamin Hall, 

Thomas Appleby, Daniel Angell. 

1810. 
President: Thomas Mann. 

Nathan Aldrich, Benjamin Hall, 

Thomas Appleby, Daniel Angell. 

1811. 

President: Thomas Mann. 

Benjamin Hall, David Harris, 

Daniel Angell, Stephen Buffum. 

1812. 

President: Thomas Mann. 

Benjamin Hall, David Harris, 

Daniel Angell, Stephen Buffum. 

1813. 

President: Thomas Mann. 

Benjamin Hall, David Harris, 

Daniel Angell, Stephen Buffum. 

1814. 

President: Benjamin Hall. 

James Appleby, Daniel Angell, 

None, None. 

1815. 

President: Thomas Buffum. 

David Tucker, Marcus Arnold, 

Arnold Jenckes, Jeremiah Smith. 

1810. 

President: Daniel Angell. 

Arnold Jenckes, Jeremiah Smith, Jr. 

David Wilkinson, Stephen Steere. 

1817. 

President: Daniel Angell. 
Jeremiah Smith, Jr., Reuben Mo wry, 
Stephen Steere, William Aldrich. 



HISTORT OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 



193 



David Wilkinson, 
Winsor Aldrich, 



David Wilkinson, 
Winsor Aldrich, 



David Wilkinson, 
AVinsor Aldrich, 



David Wilkinson, 
Winsor Aldrich, 



David Wilkinson, 
George Ohace, 



David Wilkinson, 
Cyrus Arnold, 



Morton Mowry, 
Abraham AVinsor, 



Morton Mowry, 
Abraham Winsor, 



Morton Mowry, 
Barney Dodge, 

25 



1818. 

President: Reuben Mowry. 

Stephen Steere, William Aldrich, 

1819. 

President: Reuben Mowry. 

Stephen Steere, William Aldrich, 

Morton Mowry, Daniel Winsor. 

1820. 

President: Reuben Mowry. 

Stephen Steere, William Aldrich, 

Morton Mowry, Arnold Spear. 

1821. 

President: Reuben Mowry. 

Stephen Steere, George Chace, 

Morton Mowry, Arnold Spear. 

1822. 

President: Daniel Angell. 
Morton Mowry, Arnold Spear, 

Jeremiah Whipple, Abraham Winsor. 

1823. 
President: Thomas Buffum. 

Morton Mowry, Arnold Spear, 

Jeremiah AV hippie, Abraham AVinsor. 

1824. 

President: David Wilkinson. 

Charles Appleby, Jeremiah Whipple, 

Barney Dodge, Samuel B. Harris. 

1825. 

President: Samuel B. Harris. 

Charles Appleby, Jeremiah AVhipple, 

Barney Dodge, Lewis Dexter. 

1826. 

/'resident: Samuel B. Harris, 

Nathaniel Mowry, Jeremiah AVhipple, 

Lewis Dexter, Sessions Mowry. 



194 



HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 



Nathaniel Mowry, 
Lewis Dexter, 



Nathaniel Mowry, 
Lewis Dexter, 



Nathaniel Mowry, 
Lewis Dexter, 



Sessions Mowry, 
Richard S. Scott, 



Elisha Smith, 
Elisha Olney, Jr., 



Elisha Smith, 
Elisha Olney, Jr., 



Simon Aldrich, 
Asa W. Ballon, 



1827. 

President: Morton Mowry. 

Jeremiah Whipple, Barney Dodge, 
Sessions Mowry, David Lapham. 

1828. 

President: Morton Mowry. 

Jeremiah Whipple, Barney Dodge, 
Sessions Mowry, David Lapham. 

1829. 

President: Morton Mowry. 

Jeremiah Whipple, Barney Dodge, 
Sessions Mowry, David Lapham. 

1 830. 

President: Lewis Dexter. 
David Lapham, Elisha Smith, 

Wilder Holbrook, Elisha Olney, Jr. 

1831. 

President: Lewis Dexter. 
Richard S. Scott, Wilder Holbrook, 

Daniel G. Harris, George Ghace. 

1832. 

President: Lewis Dexter. 
• Richard S. Scott, Wilder Holbrook. 

None, None. 

1833. 

President: Lewis Dexter. 
Richard S. Scott, Stephen Sheldon, 



Job S. Man, 
1834. 



President: 
Stephen Sheldon, Job S. Man, 

Waterman F. Brown, John Jenckes, 



Andrew Waterman. 



Andrew Weatherhead, 
Edwin Harris. 



1 S35. 

President: Morton Mowry. 
Stephen Sheldon, Job S. Man, Dexter Aldrich, 

Asahel Phetteplace, Samuel Clark, Asahel Angell. 



HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 195 

1836. 

President: Morton Mowry. 
Stephen Sheldon, Cyrus Arnold, Tyler Mowry, 

Asahel Phetteplace, Smith B. Mowry, Asahel Angell. 

1837. 

President: Morton Mowry. 
Stephen Sheldon, Cyrus Arnold, Samuel Clark, 

Asahel Phetteplace, Smith B. Mowry, Asahel Angell. 

1838. 

President: Morton Mowry. 
Samuel Clark, Asahel Angell Stephen Steere, 

Dexter Aldrich, Barney Dodge, Uriah Benedict. 

1839. 

President: Morton Mowry. 
Samuel Clark, Asahel Angell, Stephen Sheldon, 

Dexter Aldrich, Barney Dodge, Burrill Aldrich. 

1840. 

President: Morton Mowry. 
Samuel Clark, Asahel Angell, Barney Dodge, 

Alvin Jenks, Stephen Smith, 2d, Pelatiah Metcalf. 

1841. 

President: Samuel Clark. 
Dexter Aldrich, Barney Dodge, Alvin Jenks, 

Stephen Smith, 2d, * Pelatiah Metcalf, John Foster. 

1842. 

President: Arnold Spear. 
Dexter Aldrich, Alvin Jenks, John Foster, 

James T. Harkness, Gideon Mowry, Lyman Cook. 

1843. 

President: Arnold Spear. 
Ahaz Mowry, Jr., Elisha Smith, Daniel Sayles, Jr., 

Edward Evans, Avery Gilman, Benjamin Harris, 

William M. Farnum, Bohert Harris, Bradford Bullock. 

1844. 

President: Lewis Dexter. 
John Foster, Gideon Mowry, Lyman Cook, 

Christopher W. Kelly, Lyman Wilmarth, Ansel Holman. 



196 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMTTHFIELD. 

1845. 

President: Thomas Buffum. 
Daniel Sayles, Daniel Wilbur, James Phetteplace, 

Bradford Bullock, Johnson G-. Horton, William M. Farnum. 

1846. 

President: Thomas Buffum. 
Bradford Bullock, David Wilbur, James Phetteplace, 

Albert Cook, Horace Trowbridge, William M. Farnum. 

1847. 
President: Thomas Buffum. 
Daniel Pierce, Benjamin Harris, John Fenner, 

Israel Wilkinson, Israel Sayles, Albert Cook. 

1848. 

President: Thomas Buffum. 
Daniel Pierce, Eobert Harris, Richard Mowry, 

Israel Sayles, John Knight, Asa Winsor. 

1849. 
President: Thomas Buffum. 
Robert Harris, Richard Mowry, Israel Sayles, 

John Knight, Thomas Latham, Israel B. Purinton. 

1850. 

President: Thomas Buffum. 
Robert Harris, Israel Sayles, John Knight, 

Thomas Latham, Alfred Allen, William Smith. 

1851. 

President: Robert Harris. 

Israel Sayles, , John Knight, Thomas Lapham, 

Samuel S. Mallory, Alden Coe, George B. Aldrich. 

1852. 

President: Robert Harris. 
Thomas Latham, Richard Smith. Albert Cook, 

John J. Carpenter, John Knight. ? 

1853. 

President: Robert Harris. 
Thomas Latham, Richard Smith, Albert Cook, 

John J. Carpenter, John Knight. ? 



HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFTELD. 197 

1854. 

President: Richard Mowry. 
Henry Stone, James Phetteplace, John B. Tallman, 

Daniel Mowry, Louis Aldrich, Henry Gooding. 

1855. 

President: Daniel N. Paine. 
John J. Carpenter, James Phetteplace, Harris M. Irons, 
Daniel Mowry, William Patt, James H. Chace, 

1856. 

President: Lewis Dexter. 
John J. Carpenter, Harris M. Irons, Daniel Mowry, 

William Patt, Charles Moies, Harden Knight. 

1857. 

President: Lewis Dexter. 
John J. Carpenter, Harris M. Irons, George Johnson, 

William Patt, Charles Moies, Harden Knight. 

1858. 

President: Lewis Dexter. 
John J. Carpenter, Harris M. Irons, George Johnson, 

William Patt, Charles Moies, Daniel Mowry. 

1859. 

President: Lewis Dexter. 
Charles Moies, John J. Carpenter, George Johnson, 

Arlon Mowry, William P. Steere, William Mowry. 

1860. 

President: Lewis Dexter. 
Charles Moies, John J. Carpenter, George Johnson, 

Arlon Mowry, William P. Steere, William Mowry. 

1861. 

President: Charles Moies. 
Arlon Mowry, William Mowry, George M. Appleby, 

George Johnson, Harvey S. Bartlett, John N. Spaulding. 

1862. 

President: Charles Moies. 
Arlon Mowry, William Mowry, Wm. Duane Aldrich, 

George Johnson, Harvey S. Bartlett, John N. Spaulding. 



198 



HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMTTHFIELD. 



Arlon Mowry, 
George Johnson, 



Arlon Mowry, 
George Johnson, 



Arlon Mowry, 
George Johnson, 



Arlon Mowry, 
George Johnson, 



Arlon Mowry, 
George Johnson, 



Arlon Mowry, 
Edward A. Brown. 



Edward A. Brown, 
Baylies Bourne, 



Edward A. Brown, 
Baylies Bourne, 



Edward A. Brown, 
Baylies Bourne, 



1863. 

President: Charles Moies. 

William Mowry, Wm. Duane Aldrich, 

William P. Steere, John J. Carpenter. 

1864. 

President: Charles Moies. 

William Mowry, Wm. Duane Aldrich, 

William P. Steere, Benjamin Comstock. 

1865. 

President: Charles Moies. 

William Mowry, Wm. Duane Aldrich, 

William P. Steere, Benjamin Comstock. 

1866. 

President: Charles Moies. 

William Mowry, Wm. Duane Aldrich, 

William P. Steere, Baylies Bourne. 

1867. 

President: Charles Moies. 

William Mowry, Wm. Duane Aldrich, 

William P. Steere, Baylies Bourne. 

1868. 

President: George Johnson. 

Baylies Bourne, Wm. Duane Aldrich, 

William P. Steere, Oscar A. Tobey. 

1869. 

President: Arlon Mowry. 
William P. Steere, George Johnson, 
Oscar A. Tobey, William H. Aldrich. 

1870. 

President: Arlon Mowry. 
William P. Steere, George Johnson, 
Oscar A. Tobey, William H. Aldrich. 

1871. 

President: Arlon Mowry. 
William P. Steere, George Johnson, 
Oscar A. Tobey, William II. Aldrich. 



HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 199 



TOWN TREASURERS. 

John Sayles 1731-50 

Israel Wilkinson 1750 

Stephen Whipple 1755 

Capt. John Angell 1756-60 

Stephen Whipple 1761-9 

William Buffum 1770-2 

Arnold Paine 1773-6 

Uriah Alverson 1777-85 

Stephen Brayton 1786-91 

Kobert Harris 1792-1811 

Isaac Wilkinson 1812-39 

Lewis Dexter 1840-2 

Stafford Mann 1843 

Samuel Clark 1844 

Stafford Mann 1845-9 

Robert Harris 1850-4 

Henry Gooding 1855-6 

Thomas Moies 1857 

Reuel P. Smith 1858-70 



TOWN CLERKS. 



Richard Sayles 1731 

Joseph Arnold, Jr 1732 ' 

Daniel Jenckes 1733-42 ^ 

Joseph Arnold 1743-5 ^ 

Thomas Sayles 1746-54 

Joseph Sayles .... 1755-9 

John Sayles, Jr 1756 

Daniel Mowry, Jr 1760-1814 

Samuel Maun 1815-16 

Thomas Maun 1817-39 

George L. Barnes 1840-2 

Orrin Wright 1843 

George L. Barnes 1844 

Orrin Wright 1845-49 

Stafford Mann 1850-4 

Samuel Clark 1855-70 



200 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 



MODERATORS CHOSEN AT ANNUAL TOWN MEETINGS. 

Jonathan Sprague, Jr 1731-2 

Major William Smith 1733-5 

Thomas Sayles ■. 1736 

Thomas Steere 1737 

Thomas Sayles 1738 

Thomas Steere 1739 

Major William Smith 1740 

Daniel Jenckes 1741 

Thomas Sayles 1742-5 

William Arnold 1746-8 

Thomas Steere 1749-50 

William Arnold 1751-2 

William Jenckes 1753 

William Arnold 1754 

Thomas Steere 1755-7 

Thomas Lapham 1 758 

Thomas Steere 1759-60 

Thomas Lapham 1761 

Thomas Steere 1762-4 

Baulston Brayton 1765 

Ezekiel Comstock 1766 

Thomas Steere : 1767 

Ezekiel Comstock J 768 

Thomas Steere 1769 

John Sayles 1770-3 

Ezekiel Comstock 1774-5 

John Sayles 1776 

Samuel Winsor 1777 

Sylvanus Sayles 1778-80 

Daniel Mowry, Jr 1781 

John Sayles • . 1782 

Daniel Mowry, Jr 1783-4 

Gideon Comstock 1785 

Henry Jenckes 1786 

Peleg Arnold 1787 

Abraham Mathewson 1788 

Sylvanus Sayles 1789 

William Waterman 1790 



HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. '201 

Daniel Mowry 1791 

John Sayles 1792 

Sylvanus Sayles 1793 

Daniel S. Mowry 1794 

Sylvanus Sayles 1795 

Peleg Arnold 1796 

Sylvanus Sayles 1797 

Peleg Arnold 1798 

Sylvanus Sayles 1799 

Ezekiel Comstock 1800 

Peleg Arnold 1 801-7 

Duty Winsor 1808 

Peleg Arnold 1809-16 

Thomas Buffum 1817-19 

George Chace 1820 

Thomas Buffum 1821 

Daniel Angell 1822 

Thomas Buffum 1823-4 

John Jenckes 18'^5 

Arnold Spear 1826-30 

George L. Barnes 1831-2 

Arnold Spear 1833-6 

Thomas Buffum 1837 

Arnold Spear . . 1838 

Louis Dexter 1839 

John Jenckes ... 1840 

David Daniels 1841 

Daniel G. Harris 1812 

David Daniels 1843 

Thomas Mann 1844 

David Daniels 1845 

Gideon Bradford 1846-52 

Daniel N. Paine 1853 

Samuel S. Mallory 1854 

Daniel N". Paine 1855 

Samuel S. Mallory 1856 

Sullivan Ballon 1857 

Edward H. Sprague ... 1858 

Spencer Mowry 1859 

Bradbury C. Hill 1860 

Spencer Mowry 1861 

26 



202 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHF1ELD. 

Daniel H". Paine 1862 

Spencer Mowry 1863-4 

Bradbnry C. Hill 1805 

Spencer Mowry 1866 

Bradbnry C. Hill 1867-8 

Daniel K Paine 1869 

Joseph M. Boss "... 1870 



At a town meeting held on the sixteenth day of April, 1828, it was 
voted: That Henry S. Mansfield, John Jenckes, Thomas Bnffnm, 
George Smith, Mark Aldrich, David Wilkinson, Uriah Benedict, 
Samuel Hill, Jr., Daniel Jenckes, Lewis Dexter, Nicholas S. Winsor, 
Seth Mowry, Stephen Steere, Sessions Mowry, Luke Phillips, Caleb 
Farnum, Arnold Aldrich 2d, Abraham Winsor, Cyrus Arnold, Ezekiel 
Angell, Elisha Smith 3d, Arnold Bates, David Harris, John Dexter, 
and William Mowry 2d, be and they are hereby appointed a commit- 
tee to district the town into school districts. 

Voted: That all moneys appropriated for public schools shall be 
divided and appropriated as follows: one-half of the money to be 
equally divided among the schools, and the other half according to 
the number of scholars from four to twenty years old. 

The School Committee was authorized to superintend the public 
schools and make the appropriations of money therefor. 



SCHOOL COMMITTEES. 

1828. 



Barney Dodge, William Buffum, David Ide, 

Manuel Shoules, Luke Phillips, Tyler Mowry, 

Jonathan Andrews, Joseph Mowry, Sessions Mowry, 

Asa Winsor, Stephen Steere, Elisha Smith, 

Silas Smith, Lewis Dexter, Ezekiel Angell, 

Daniel Jenckes, Samuel Hill, Jr., John Jenckes. 

Daniel Jenckes 2d. 



HTSTORY OF THE TOWN OF RMITHFlELD. 



203 



Joseph Osborne, 
Ephraim Coe, 
Welcome Sayles, 
Daniel Aldrich, 
John S. Appleby, 
Robert Harris, 
David Wilkinson, 

George L. Barnes, 
Samuel Bushee, 
William Mo wry, Jr., 
James Brown, 
William Harris, 
Eleazer Mowry, 
David Wilkinson, 

George S. Barnes, 
Samuel Bushee, 
William Mowry, Jr., 
James Brown, 
Gideon Evans, 
William Enches, 
David Wilkinson, 
Mark Aldrich, 

Daniel Kendall, 
George Aldrich 3d, 
Ethan Harris, 

Richard S. Scott, 
Stephen Mowry, 

Stephen F. Brownell. 
George Chace, 
Ephraim Smith, 
Alden Coe, 
William Smith, 
Wilder Holbrook, 
Elisha Smith, 



1829. 

William Helme, 

Asa Arnold, 
William Mowry, Jr., 
William Harris, 
Elisha Smith, 
Ezekiel Angell, 
George Smith, 

1830. 

William Holmes, 
Isaac Wilkinson, 
Morton Mowry, 
Asa M. Bartlett, 
Elisha Smith, 
Anthony Angell, 
Israel Arnold, Jr., 

1831. 

William Holbrook, 
Ezekiel Aldrich, 
Morton Mowry, 
Asa W. Ballou, 
Elisha Smith, 
Anthony Angell, 
Henry S. Scott, 
Samuel Clark, 

1832. 

Charles Smith, 
Alden Coe, 
Ransom J. Greene, 
George W. Mowry, 
Arnold Mowry, 

1833. 
David Inman, 
Richard Sayles, 
Levi Mowry, 
Seth Mowry, 
Samuel Clark, 
David Wilbor, 
Nicholas Winsor. 



Moses Aldrich, 
Mark Aldrich, 
Morton Mowry, 
Asa Winsor, 
Caleb Farnum, 
Elisha Olney, Jr., 
Uriah Bennett. 

Rnfns Tracy, 
Welcome Sayles, 
Rnfus Arnold, 
Renben Mowry, 
Caleb Farnum, 
Joseph Briggs, 
Uriah Bennett. 

Charles Smith, 
William Sayles, 
Lapham Jeffers, 
Seth Mowry, 
Winsor Farnum, 
Joseph Briggs, 
Uriah Bennett, 
Samuel E. Gardiner. 

Edward C. Cranston, 
Otis Mowry, 
David Wilbor, 
William W. James, 
Joseph Mowry 3d. 

Edward C. Cranston, 
Uriah Bennett, 
Moses Aldrich, 
Otis Mowry, 
Lyman Arnold, 
Brown W. Sweet, 



204 



HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELH. 



Stephen F. Brownell, 

George Chace, 
Ephraim Smith, 
Alclen Coe, 
William Smith, 
Wilder Holbrook, 
Elisha Smith, 



Simeon Aldrich, 
Ephraim Smith, 
Junior S. Latham, 
Arnold Newell, 
Jonathan Buxton, 
Augustus Wright, 
John Fennei*, 



Simeon Aldrich, 
Ephraim Smith, 
Junior S. Latham, 
Arnold Newell, 
Jonathan Buxton, 
Augustus Wright, 
John Fenner, 



Edward Hotchkiss, 
Dennis Ballou, 
Sterry Jen ekes, 
Jonathan Andrews, 
Gideon Mowry, 
Henry S. Mansfield, 
Fenner Mowry, 
Edward Evans, 



1834. 

David In man, 
Richard Sayles, 
Levi Mowry, 
Seth Mowry, 
Samuel Clark, 
David Wilbor, 
Nicholas Winsor. 

1 835. 

Charles A. Farnum, 
Stephen Sheldon, 
Amasa Grant, 
Samuel Clark, 
Jesse Hutchinson, 
Mowry Lapham, 
Nicholas S. Winsor, 
Stephen Hopkins Smith. 



Edward C. Cranston, 
Uriah Benedict, 
Moses Aldrich, 
Otis Mowry, 
Lyman Arnold, 
Brown W. Sweet, 



Charles Moies, 
Arnold Spear, 
Ethan Harris, 
Oliver Angell, 
Lemuel Alexander, 
Caleb Farnum, 
Abraham Smith, 



183G. 

Charles A. Farnum, 
Stephen Sheldon, 
Amasa Grant, 
Samuel Clark, 



Charles Moies, 
Arnold Spear, 
Ethan Harris, 
Oliver Angell, 



Jesse Hutchinson, Jr., Samuel Alexander, 
Mowry Lapham, Caleb Farnum, 

Nicholas S. Winsor, Abraham Smith, 
Stephen Hopkins Smith. 



1837. 

Thomas Buffum, 
Daniel Hendrick, 
Ephraim Smith, 
Daniel Aldrich, 
Ezekiel Angell, 
Smith Jenckes, 
Caleb Farnum, 
Spencer Mowry, 

183S. 
The Town Council. 



Amos D. Lockwood, 
Elisha Mowry, Jr., 
John Moies, 
Robert W. Coe, 
Ephraim Sayles, 
Simeon Aldrich, Jr., 
Asa Winsor, 
Elisha Smith. 



HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFTRLD. 



205 



1844. 

Lewis Dexter, John Foster, 

Christopher W. Kelly, Lyman Cooke, 

Ansel Holman. 

1845. 
Gideon Bradford, Metcalf Marsh, 
Thomas Mann, Stephen Benedict, 

Emor H. Smith. 

1846. 
Junior S. Mowry, Charles Hyde, 

1847-8. 
Charles Hyde, James Bnshee, 

1849. 
Isaac J. Burgess, Samuel S. Mallory, 

1850. 
Samuel S. Mallory, Thomas Steere, 

1851. 

Samuel S. Mallory, John B. Tallman, 

William G. Arnold. 

1852. 

Samuel S. Mallory, Lysander Flagg, 
William Gr. Arnold, Howard W. King. 

1853. 
Samuel S. Mallory, Howard W. King, 

1854. 
Howard W. King, Harvey Holmes, 

1855. 
Howard W. King, George C. Wilson, 

1856. 
Samuel S. Mallory, Howard W. King, 

1857. 
Samuel S. Mallory, Howard W. King, 

1858. 
John G. Richardson, Howard W. King, 



Gideon Mowry, 
Hiram Wilmarth, 



Isaac Wilkinson, 
Richard Smith, 



Thomas D. Holmes. 
Ahaz Mowry. 
Thomas Steere. 
John P. Leonard. 
Howard W. King, 

James 0. Whitney, 

George C. Wilson. 
George C. Wilson. 
Samuel S. Mallory, 
Arlon Mowry. 
Rev. Francis J. Warner. 
Rev. Francis J. Warner. 



206 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 

1859. 
John G. Richardson, Howard W. King, William H. Seagraves. 

1860. 
John Gr. Richardson, Howard W. King, Samuel 0. Tabor, 

Eev. Mo wry Phillips. 

1861. 
John Gr. Richardson, Samuel 0. Tabor, Howard W. King, 

Rev. Mowry Phillips. 

1862, 

John G. Richardson, Rev. Mowry Phillips, Samuel 0. Tabor, 

Thomas L. Angell. 

1863. 
Rev. Stewart Sheldon, Rev. Theodore Cook, Rev. Mowry Phillips, 

Thomas L. Angell. 

1864. 

Lysander Flagg, Augustus M. Aldrich, Marshall I. Mowry, 

Rev. Richard Woodworth. 

1865. 

Rev. George H. Miner, Horace D. Paine, George A. Kent, 

Rev. Richard Woodworth. 

1866. 
Rev. George H. Miner, Horace D. Paine, George A.Kent, 

Rev. Richard Woodworth. 

1867. 
Edwin A. Buck, Rev. R. Woodworth, George A. Kent, 

Rev. George W. Gill, Rev. Jas. E. Dockray, Ansel D. Nickerson. 

1868. 

Rev. Jas. E. Dockray, George A. Kent, Marshall I. Mowry, 

Ansel D. Nickerson, Rev. Robert Murray, Jr., 

1869. 

Rev. R. Murray, Jr., George A. Kent, Ansel D. Nickerson, 

Webster Hazlewood, Marshall I. Mowry, Samuel 0. Tabor, 

Rev. Charles E. Handy. 

1870. 

George A. Kent, ReV. R. Murray, Jr., Rev. M.W. Burlingame, 

Lysander Flagg, Marshall I. Mowry, Samuel 0. Tabor. 



HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 



207 



At a town meeting, held August 25th, 1840, it was voted: That 
there shall he annually, hereafter, appointed a committee of three 
persons to examine those who may apply to he employed as teachers 
in this town, and if, in the opinion of one or more of said committee, 
such person is qualified as teacher, such member or members of said 
committee shall give such person a certificate to that effect; and that 
no person shall be entitled to receive any of the school money of this 
town who shall not have received such a certificate of qualification 
within six months previous to the time of such service as teacher; and, 
further, that the committee aforesaid be authorized and required to 
recommend such school books as they think most suitable to be used 
throughout the town; also, to visit the schools and make such sugges- 
tions for improvement as they may think proper. 



EXAMINING COMMITTEE. 

1840. 
Amos D. Lockwood, Nicholas S. Winsor, Samuel S. Mallory. 

In November, however, the number of said committee was ordered 
to be five. 

James T. Harkness was chosen in place of Mr. Lockwood, who de- 
clined, and Thomas D. Holmes and David W. Aldrich were added. 



1841. 

Timothy A. Taylor. Nicholas S. Winsor, 
Thomas D. Holmes, David W. Aldrich. 

1842. 
Timothy A. Taylor, Nicholas S. Winsor, 

Jenckes Mowry. 

1843. 

Samuel S. Mallory, Orin Wright, 
Metcalf Marsh, 
John B. Tallman, 



Samuel S. Mallory, 



Thomas D. Holmes, 



Asa W. Ballon, 



James T. Harkness, Jenckes Mowry, 
Jonathan Inman, Boham P. Byrom, 

Bailey E. Borden. 

1844. 

Timothy A. Taylor, Nicholas S. Winsor, Simon A. Sayles. 
Thomas D. Holmes, Charles E. Taylor. 

1845. 
Gideon Bradford, James T. Harkness, George L. Barnes, 
Samuel S. Mallory, William Winsor. 



APPENDIX E 






LIST OF OFFICERS OF THE MILITIA BELONGING TO SMITHFIELD. 

1775 to 1789. 

1775. Elisha Mo wry Lieut. -Colonel, 2d Regiment. 

Andrew Waterman Captain. 

Luke Arnold " 

Peleg Arnold 

Joseph Jenckes 

Sylvanus Bucklin Lieutenant. 

1776. Andrew Waterman Captain. 

Elisha Mowry, Jr Lieut. -Colonel, 2d Regiment. 

-"Thomas Jenckes Captain. 

David Eddy. " 

Nehemiah Smith " 

Samuel Day Lieutenant. 

Ebenezer Trask " 

James Smith " 

John Sayles, Jr Colonel. 

1777. Elisha Mowry, declined Lieut. -Colonel, 2d Regiment. 

1778. John Angell " 

Samuel Day Captain. 

Ebenezer Trask " 

Joseph Sjn-ague " 

1779. John Angell Lieut. -Colonel, 2d Regiment. 

Eber Angell Captain. 

Ebenezer Trask " 

Daniel Mowry 4th " 

Robert Bennett Lieutenant. 

Simeon Ballou " 

Benjamin Sheldon " 

1780. John Angell Lieut. -Colonel, 2d Regiment. 

William Aldrich Major, 2d Regiment. 



HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 



209 



Eber Angell Captain. 

Ebenezer Trask " 

Daniel Mowry, 4th " 

Eobert Bennett Lieutenant. 

Simeon Ballon •'< 

Benjamin Sheldon " 

1781. Feleg Arnold Lieut. -Colonel, Commandant 2d Battalion. 

Job Mowry Captain. 

Benjamin Ballon " 

Ebenezer Trask " 

Daniel Mowry 4th 

Daniel Mowry 4th Major, 2d Regiment. 

1 ; 84. Job Mowry Captain. 

Ebenezer Trask " 

George Streeter " 

Joel Aldrich Lieutenant. 

1785. Joel Aldrich Major, 2d Regiment. 

William Aldrich Major, Senior Chaplain Regiment. 

178G. Joel Aldrich Major, 2d Regiment. 

1780. William Aldrich Major, 2d Regiment. 



LIST OF OFFICERS AND MEN WHO ENLISTED IN THE SERVICE 

OF THE UNITED STATES, FROM SMITHFIELD, DURING 

THE WAR OF THE REBELLION. 



FIRST REGIMENT DETACHED MILITIA. 



Thomas Steere, 1st Lieut., 
Eenry C. Clark, 
Daniel Sayles, 
J. JS T . Woodward, 
James Watson, 
Job Arnold, 
Nicholas B. Young, 
George L. Keach, 
Nelson Ballon, 



Alexander F. Taylor, 
William H. II. Cowden, 
Albert E. Slides, 
William L. Eason, 
G. M. Salisbury, 
Edward W. Greene, 
Thomas Young, 
Benjamin 0. Arnold. 
Samuel Cash, 



210 



HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 



John E, Cowden, 
Thomas Earle, 
George Macomber, 
Roderick Whipple, 
Henry L. Cook. 
Olney Marsh, 
John H. Steere, 
Ferdinand L. Watson, 
Albert H. Abbott, 
Arlon J. Follett, 



George A, Earle, 
James A. Gardiner, 
Horace F. Allen, 
Henry C. Mowry, 
Barney J. Dodge, 
Joseph N. Mason, 
John S. Sanborn, 
George D. Morris, 
Zavier D. Fisher, 
Hiram E. Taft. 



SECOND REGIMENT R. I. VOLUNTEERS. 



Sullivan Ballon, Major, 
Charles E. Perkins, Captain, 
Elisha Arnold, 1st Lieut., 
Stephen West, Jr., 1st Lient. 
Henry C. Cook, 2d Lieut, 
Abraham Taylor, 
Alney E. Nutting, 
George T. Remington, 
Henry Taft, 
Leonard A. Clark, 
Daniel G. Carpenter. 
Stephen West, Jr., 
George E. Potter, 
James Cromley, 
David Cash, 
Simeon Dean, 
William H. Frazier, 
George W. Fuller, 
William Farrell, 
Charles A. Godfrey, 
John C. Hall, 
Nathaniel G. Horton, 
Eobert L. Johnstone, 
John Kelly, 
Thomas McAlpin, 
John Newell, 
James Newell, 
Patrick Island, 
Israel Smith, 



Marvin Smith, 
James Fagan, 
Almon Harris, 
Albert E. Maker, 
Giles C. Avery, 
William Arnold, 
James E. Boyce, 
Hiram Bucklin, 
Joseph C. Burnes, 
Silas T. Watson, 
Jenckes Patt. 
J. P. Crandall, 
Christopher A. Coruy, 
Edward O'Neal, 
James F. Loomis, 
James Martin, 
Albert A. Mowry, 
John J. Malone, 
William W. Mowry, 
Bernard McGarhen, 
Joseph A. Phillips, 
William H. Reed, 
James F. Steere, 
Charles W. Weeks, 
William H. Augell, 
Jencks Bartlett, 
Charles E. Perkins, 
Thomas O'Niell, 
John F. O'Niell, 



HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 



211 



Edwin F. Steere, Serg't, 
Lewis L. Suyles, 
Silas G. Ballon, 
William Hopkins, 
George A. Pearce, 
Michael Riley, 
Albert W. While, 
Preserved Angell, 
Alfred I. Curtis, 
Elisha Arnold, 
Thomas Lewis, 
Stephen Phetteplace, 
John Chatman, 
James K. King, 
William C. Parker, 
Charles E. Dunham, 
Robert A. McCartney, 
Simeon I. Staples, 
George W. Kidder, 
James W. Potter. 



John H. Phillips, 
George W. Harvey, 
John Pasnett, 
William Lomas, 
George W. Olney, 
Stephen West, Jr., 
William G. Reynolds, 
Robert Robertson, Jr., 
Albert F. Smith, 
James R. Pierce, 
William Thomas, 
Bradford Chamberlai n, 
Charles H. Hawkins, 
George B. Hutchinson, 
Lewis E. Angell, 
James H. Brophy, 
Patrick Carroll, 
Joseph L. Haswell, 
Wilson Aldrich, 



THIED EEGIMENT E. I. HEAVY AETILLEEY. 



Isaac Bishop, 
Samuel Hyndam, 
Irwin F. Mann, 
Edwin Soule, 
William H. Bateman, 
John Baird, 
Charles A. Baker, 
Horatio N. Moon, 
Edward P. Maguie, 
Charles W. Nichols, 
Thomas Phelan, 
Hiram Phetteplace, 
John Shuce, 
Barton W. Saunders, 
Erastus D. Whitcomb, 
Olney Marsh, 
John O'Connor, 
Henry S. Jonnison, 
Daniel L. Arnold, 



Samuel Kirk, 
Arthur J. McAllen, 
George F. Paine, 
Moses A. Paine, 
Hiram R. Parker, 
John C. Pitts, 
Charles R. Richardson, 
Albert L. Ruby, 
Edward Ryan, 
Uriah Salley, 
LeAvis C. Sanborn, 
Charles H. Smith, 
Stephen H. Sanborn, 
Levi Simmons, 
Henry E. Williams, 
Jashub Wing, 
William H. II. Mowry, 
Alonzo M. Fuller, 
Stephen Rider, 



212 



HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELI). 



Silas H. Appleby, 
Alfred B. Brown, 
Nelson M. Buffuni, 
William Davis, 
Edward Black, 
John II. Hodges, 
Alonzo N. Fuller, 
Sidney A. Fuller, 
James B. Fuller, 
Oscar F. Clifford, 
Roger Hale, 
Daniel B. Hill, 
Albert Langley, 
John McNally, 
William McAllen, 
George H. Smith, 
James T. Warner, 
Benjamin L. Sayles, 
John O'Brien, 
Edwin MoAvry, 
Arnold 0. Messier, 
Thomas Finley, 
James Campbell, 
John C. Oakley, 
Elisha Mowry, 
Tristram S. Dow, 
Edward Black, 



Samuel Carson, 
George L. Burlingame, 
John H. Bailey, 
Daniel J. Stone, 
Edward Eddy, 
Benjamin Cbace, 
Edwin Salley, 
Michael Glancy, 
John Higgins, 
James B. Hobron, 
James D. Havens, 
Abijah B. Havens, 
William W. Hodges, 
Edwin Joslin, 
Henry C. Reynolds, 
David Sanders* i] i. 
Christopher K. Wilbor, 
Cornelius O'Sullivan, 
James B. Hobson, 
James O'Donnell, 
Michael Cavanaugh, 
Martin G. Thornton, 
Andrew J. Alexander, 
Henry J. Morris, 
Daniel S. Olney, 
Irwin F. Mann. 
John Bierd, 



FOURTH REGIMENT 1{. I. VOLUNTEERS. 



Charles II. Green, Captain, 

Geo. F. Crowingshield, 1st Lieut. 

Charles II. Johnston, ]st Lieut. 

William Saver, 

James Gamley, 

James McCann, 

Albert Burlingame, 

Stephen Booth, 

Moses Clemence, 

Warren J. Cutting, 

Isaac Charles, Jr., 

James Davis, 



Erastus E. Lapham, Captain, 
John E. Moies, 1st Lieut. 
Edwin M. Smith, 
Jacob Buttertield, 
Henry W. Bullman, 
Decatur M. Boyden, 
Silas W. Cummings, 
Cornelius Costigan, 
Peter Curran. 
George L. Carter, 
James Craig, 
William II. Carter, 



HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 



213 



Albert G. Hopkins, 
Jeremiah Lan, 
Martin Quigley, 
William H. Staples, 
Albert H. Staples, 
Ephraim M. Staples, 
John Shay, 
Albert L. Steere, 
Herbert N. Sweet, 
John M. Parker, 
Peter Stevens, 
Joseph Kelley, 
Robert Kennedy, 
Patrick Kennedy, 
Henry M. Potter, 
John Reynolds, 
Edwin Street, 
John B. H. Eaglestone, 
Charles H. Fuller, 
William Farrell, 
Samuel W. Farnum, 
Samuel H. Gorton, 
George B. Hill, 
Joseph B. Moore, 
Nelson T. Newman, 
Charles A. Newell, 
David Phetteplace, 
John R. Case, 
Edwin M. Smith, 
Charles H. Briggs, Si\, 
John Barrington, 
John E. Moies, Serg't. 



Thomas Clancy, 
Michael 0. Day, 
John Flood, 
John N. Graves, 
James Grinrod, 
Sylvester Griffin, 
Timothy Gracy, 
James Hennaver, 
John Hunt, 
Andrew Kennedy, 
George Clarence, 
Walter B. Peck, 
Solomon Butterfield, 
Jabez Butterfield, 
Henry Butterfield, 
Edwin M. Smith, 
Martin Sullivan, 
Edwin Tyler, 
George Wild, 
George Smith, 
Henry Wardell, 
James Welch, 
Fenner Latham, 
John Beaumont, 
Emor H. Bartlett, 
William H. Nichols, 
George Bassett, 
Albert E. Sholes, 
John A. Crowningshield, 
Charles H, Briggs, Jr., 
Nathan Collins, 



FIFTH REGTMENT R. I. HEAVY ARTILLERY. 



John Aigan, Captain, 

Dennis G. Ballon, 

Jerry Sullivan, 

Timothy Prior, 

Ebenezer Balcolm, 

Wilson D. Barnes, 

Richard A. Brown, Corporal. 



Richard Arnold, 
James Flynn, 
Charles Farrington, 
Frank Fox, 
Thomas Cooney, 
Thomas Forbes, 



214 



HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 



SEVENTH REGIMENT R. I. VOLUNTEERS. 



John Sullivan, 2d Lieut. 

Joseph Coyle, 

Peter Lamby, 

Alonzo L. Jenckes, 

Benjamin W. Keech, 

Adams Murray, 

Albert M. Smith, 

George Buxton, 

Joseph Battie, 

Michael Eice, 

Nelson Niles, 

James S. Slater, 

John A. Austin, 

James J. Taylor, 

Joseph J. D. Gray ton, 

Albert G. Durfee, 

Dexter L. Brownell, 2d Lieut. 

Albert M. Smith, 

George Buxton, 

Joseph Battie, 

Michael Rice, 

Nelson Niles, 

James S. Slater, 

John Sullivan, 

Mathew S. Belcher, 

John Simpson, 



John S. Belcher, 2d Lieut. 
Stei>hen C. Jillson, 
John F. Steere, 
Henry W. Beebe, 
Jobn Brennan, 
Charles F. Slocum, 
Samuel Curtis, 
George Fisher, 
John Burke, 
Francis W. Gardiner, 
Edward A. Radikin, 
Cyril P. Thornton, 
John Simpson, 
Hasson 0. Whiting, 
Horatio Steere, 
William H. Smith, 
Decatur M. Boyden, 
Samuel Curtis, 
George Fisher, 
John Burke, 
Francis W. Gardiner, 
Edward A. Radikin, 
Cyril P. Thornton, 
John Sullivan, 2d Lieut., 
John A. Austin, 
James J. Taylor, 



NINTH REGIMENT R. I. VOLUNTEERS. 



John McKinley, Captain, 
Nathan Benton, 2d Lieut., 
Horatio Giles, 
Andrew Crumley, 
James H. Jolly, 
Walter S. Sutcliff, 
Fenner Colwell, 
Trowbridge Smith, 
Joseph Smith, Jr., 
William T. Brooks, 



Isaac Place, Captain, 
Israel Arnold, Jr., 
William Cory, 
Thomas Crumley, 
James O'Brien, 
Richard J. Whittle, 
George W. Haradon, 
George H. Johnson, 
Byron S. Thompson, 
David Dines, 



HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 



215 



James Jacques, 
Henry E. Baker, 
Gilbert A. Thompson, 
Cyrus Bennett, 
Jacob Butterfield, 
Willard D. Colwell, 
William F. Fuller, 
John Gallagher, 
Alexander Henderson, 
Walter Matthew, 
Thomas Pryor, 
Joseph Sedgwick, 
James Sullivan, 
Thomas B. Spooner, 
Enoch Spencer, 
Alexander Tongue, 
Joseph Wilmarth, 
George Wilson, 
Moses Brown, 
Stephen P. Steere, 
Thomas Britton, 
Charles Bowers, 
Sylvanus Holbrook, Jr., 
Arnold Jennerson, 
John Niles, 
Otis W. Smith, 
Jarvis Smith, 
John Westgate, 
A. Sayles Clark, 
Jenckes Bartlett, 
Edwin Carter, 
John H. Durgin, 
Albert Hudson, 
Thomas Lewis, 
George S. Potter, 
Henry C. Sayles, 
John Swindler, 
Joseph Wheelock, 
George P. Grant, 
William C. Benedict, 
David E. Cash, 
Henry Crocker, 



Martin G. Cushman, 
Samuel Preston, 
Moses A. Aldrich, 
Henry Bennett, 
George W. Buxton, 
George B. Evans, 
Frederick C. Gove, 
Thomas Hughes, 
Martin G. Lyons, 
William F. Miller, 
John Regan, 
Robert San ford, 
John Sullivan, 
Justin Stevens, 
Winfield S. Thompson, 
Charles F. Taft, 
Thomas D. Wilson, 
Edward F. Steere, 
John E. Whipple, 
Daniel W. Bray ton, 
George Britton,' 
John Burns, 
Thomas L. Hopkins, 
Jesse D. Keach, 
George Smith, 
Thomas Smith, 
William T. Smith, 
James A. Sweet, 
Charles W. Bradford, 
Asa Bennett, 
Foster W. Clark, 
Caleb H. Freeman, 
George J. Hendrick, 
Charles A. Pierce, 
Thomas Riley, 
Marcus L. Sweet, 
Isaac S. Tanner, 
Edmund Crocker, 
Alanson P. Wood, 
Robert E. Cm-ran, 
Warren F. Cook, 
Byron E. Daggett, 



216 



HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 



Bemjamin A. Dennis, 
James H. Fairbanks, 

Edward A. Patt, 
Stephen A. Peck, 
Anthony G. Wood, 
Charles D. Wood. 



David L. Fales, 
Joseph B. Gooding, 
William G. Thnrber, 
John E. Whiting, 
Henry H. Welden, 



TENTH REGIMENT R. I. VOLUNTEERS. 



Samuel H. Hopkins, 
Arnold J. Paine, 
Albert W. Sprague, 



Alden Paine, 
Stephen Phetteplace, 
George H. Tyler. 



ELEVENTH REGIMENT R. I. VOLUNTEERS. 



Thomas Moies, 1st Lieut., 
Edmund E. Crocker, 
George Cushman, 
George W. Gooding, 
Nathan L. Baggs, 
Ansel Barter, 
Henry T. Braman, 
Jasper Caler, 
Patrick Cavanaugh, 
Nicholas P. Clark, 
James Coyle, 
Thomas Dolan, 
William F. Elsbree, 
Henry A. Follett, 
Theodore C. Fuller, 
Charles C. Holland, 
William Horton, 
Peter Knoth, 
Barney Mahan, 
Gilbert Mann, 
Charles P. Moies, 
John McCormick, 
John McCreighton, 
Ansel D. Nickerson, 
Levi C. Phillips, 
David N. Rogers, 
Daniel E. Verry, 



Joseph W. Grosvenor, Ass't Sur 
James N. Woodward, 
] )avid L. Fales, 
Ornian L. Patt, 
George G. Bennett, 
Daniel Bryce, 
Edward A. Browne, 
James D. Carpenter, 
Michael Cassiday, 
Warren F. Cook, 
.lames Curran, 
Andrew J. Dexter, 
J. Henry Fales, 
William B. Follett, 
Charles E. Griffin, 
Joseph E. Hood, 
Michael Killeran, 
Thomas S. Lindsay, 
Nathan P. Maker, 
Barney McNally, 
Edward McCormick, 
James Mulhaven, 
John J. Niell, 
William O'Donnell. 
Thomas Bice, 
Michael Trainor, 
Philip Vickerey, 



HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 



217 



Thomas S. White, 
Joseph W. Guild, 
John A. Rupert, 
Joseph 8. Bunker, 
Henry S. Sharpe, 
George Lovely, 
William C. White, 



Charles H. Wilmarth, 
Elisha Place, 
Ad in Patt, 
Andrew Campbell, 
John 8. Graham, 
David S. Linch, 
Daniel R. Ballou, 



TWELFTH REGIMENT R. I. VOLUNTEERS. 



Richard A. Briggs, 1st Lieut., 

William Ackinson, 

James Ackinson, 

Joseph W. Preston, 

William Reddy, 

Joseph Wilmarth, 

Oren Mo wry, 

George E. Macomber, 

Edwin P. Williams, 

Renajah 8. Allen, 

James Phetteplace, 

Mowry C. Col well, 

Collins V. Keith, 

Slutdrack 0. Mowry, 

John 11. White, 



Henry Britton, 
William A. Andrews, 
George E. Brown, 
Otis P. Cleveland, 
William H. Greene, 
James L. Burlingame, 
John E. Thornton, 
Charles J. 8weet, 
Lewis G. Arnold, Jr., 
Amasa Phetteplace, 
Horace W. Cook, 
Thomas M. Green, 
William H. Latham, 
Daniel Pelky, 
George A. Britton. 



FOURTEENTH REGIMENT HEAVY ARTILLERY. 

George A. Pearce, 1st Lieut., Daniel Carver. 



FIRST REGIMENT R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 



William H. Walcott, 
Henry E. Clark, 
Edward Morrisey, 
Thomas P. Steere, 
Joseph A. Cole, 
Albert E. Hendrick, 
George W. Nichols, 
Charles W. Hudson, 
George A. Perry, 
Patrick Sullivan, 
Lewis L. Sayles, 

38 



William Arnold, 
Patrick Larkin, 
Joseph S. Nichols, 
John Appleby Thornton, 
John Eatock, 
John B. Mowry, 
Charles 0. Dyer, 
Charles E. Mathewson, 
James Quigley, 
Benjamin Snell, 
Elisha D. Thayer, 



218 



HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 



Olney Arnold, 
Daniel W. Elliott, 
William H. Cartwright, 
William H. Steere, 
Esek S. Owen, 
Michael Barry, 
Benjamin Carter, 
Michael Murray, 
Otis P. Snell, * 
Barney Oassidy, 
Win. H. Phinney, 
Henry J. White," 
Jacob Waldberger, 
John Gray, 
Daniel Caesar, 



Royal W. Ceaser, 
Jesse D. Keach, 
Thomas Phinney, 
Albert V. Walker, 
Joy G. Bellows, 
Gilbert Carman, 
Thomas J. Loftus, 
William H. Stone, 
Aaron Schanek, 
Wm. H. C. Smith, 
Philip, A. Dexter, 
Charles W. Warren, 
Robert Sheridan, 
Patrick Cornell, 
Thomas Donnelly. 



TENTH R. I. LIGHT BATTERY. 



William Landigan, 
John Stewart, 



Joseph McClellan, 
Patrick Gleason. 



FIRST REGIMENT R. I. CAVALRY. 



John Winsor, 
Jesse W. Angell, 
Ethan S. Brown, 
William B. Ford, 
James Winterbottom, 
Marcus W. Sweet, 



Daniel A. Smith, 
William II. Latham, 
Allen T. Brown, 
John II. Steere, 
George W. Harris, 
William A. Tucker, 



Thomas Pinkerton. 



SECOND REGIMENT R. I. CAVALRY. 



Henry J. Whittaker, 1st Lieut. 
Martin C. Cushman, 
Frederick Campbell, 
Thomas Prior, 
Francis Reynolds, 
Aris Bourgen, 



Horace D. Allen, 
Alexander Brenno," 
Alexander Campbell, 
William J. Perry, 
Roswell Saltonstall, 
Thomas Crumley, 



George Crumley. 



HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 219 

THIRD REGIMENT R. I. CAVALRY. 

Lyman L. Swan, Asst. Surg., John B. Batcheller, 

Nathan L. Boggs, Nicholas B. Gardner, 

Peter Gilroy, Augustus Binford, 

Robert M. Pollard, Amos Perry, 

Wilson D. Mundy, Anslem Sansany, 

Alexander Simpson, Jonathan M. Boss, 

George H. Howard, Thomas R. Hawkins, 

Henry Mowry, James McCabe, 

Thomas Smith, George Spaulding, 

William Rankin, Edward S. Tyler. 

SEVENTH SQUADRON K. I. CAVALRY. 

Christopher Vaughau, Captain, John Angell, 1st Lieut. 

George A. Smith, Thomas Dwyer, 

Daniel H. Goff, Jeremiah Amidon, 

Antoine Allen, James Crofter, 

Timothy Collins, Alexander Henderson, 

John Higgins, Thomas Harper, 

James Mc Williams, James Ryder. 

James Sullivan, Ralph Street, 

John Taylor, James P. White, 

Caleb Watson, Wilson S. Mowry, 

Henry B. Jennison, Martin Winsor, 

John McGovern, Benjamin T. Reynolds, 

Daniel Pierce, Edward Morrisey. 

FIFTEENTH REGIMENT MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 

James Shay, Martin Winsor. 

UNITED STATES CHASSEURS. 

George Harris, Olney Clark. 

FOURTEENTH REGIMENT U. S. TNFANTRY. 

George Watson. 



TWENTY-FOURTH REGIMENT MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 

John Payson, George W. Wallace. 



220 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SMITHFIELD. 

IN OTHER MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENTS. 

Lully B. Mowry, Elisha Steere. 



POPULATION OF SMITHFIELD. 

1731 450 

1755 1,921 

1774 2,888 

1770 2,781 

1782 2,217 

1700 3,171 

1800 3,120 

1810 3,828 

1820 4,678 

1 830 6,857 

1840 9,534 

1850 11,500 

1860 13,283 

1865 12,315 



IN DEX 



Page. 

Note iii 

Public Resolution passed by Congress v 

President's Proclamation vii 

Joint Resolution on the celebration of the Centennial, passed by 

General Assembly ix 

Governor's Proclamation xi 

Action of Lincoln xiii 

" Woonsocket xiv 

" Smithfield xv 

" North Smithfield xvi 



CHAPTER I. 

Smithfield originally 1 

Roger Williams, Sketch of the life of 1-2 

" " Flight of 3 

at Seekonk 3 

" " Settlement of Providence by 3-4-5 

First written compact : 5 

Earliest conveyance of land, Copy of 6 

Town Meetings, and rules of same 7 

First departure from a pure democracy 7-8-9 

Incorporation of Providence Plantations by Parliament 9 

Power conferred by Charter 9 

Arrival of Charter in Boston 10 

Reception of Roger Williams at Providence 10 

General Assembly apointed 10 

Officers to be chosen 11 

Representatives' Court, who to consist of .... 12 

'■' were empowered 12 

Charter granted to Town of Providence 12 



222 INDEX. 

Page. 

Council of State 12 

William Cocklington appointed Governor 12 

John Clarke and Koger Williams sent to England 13 

Repeal of ( '< aldington's Commission 13 

Meeting of Freemen at Portsmouth 13 

General Assembly, Special Session of 16G0 14 

John Clark confirmed as Agent of Colony 14 

Legal process to be issued in the name of the King, Charles II. 14 
Meeting of General Assembly to receive Royal Charter of 

Charles II 15 

Charter of Charles II, Freedom under 16 

Oldest Constitutional Charter 17 

Seal adopted • • • • 17 

General Assembly, Judicial powers exercised by 17 

Claims of Connecticut and Plymouth to the jurisdiction of 

portions of Rhode Island 18 

Appointment of Commission to examine into the claims and 

titles of the Narragansett Country ... 18 

Quo warranto issued 18-19 

Sir Edmund Andros appointed Governor 19 

Appointment of Council 19 

Return to town government system 19 

i Louse of deputies constituted a distinct body 20 

First Committee of the Whole 20 

Census, 1780 20 

Death of Ro°er Williams 20 



'o v 



CHAPTER II. 

Incorporation of Smithfield 22 

Territory set off 22-23 

First town meeting, record of list of officers chosen 24-26 

Deputies to General Assembly chosen 26 

Bounty voted for killing wild cats and wolves 26 

Pair of stocks and whipping post built 26 

Passage of highway act 26 

Population in 1748 26 

Town divided into highway districts 26 

Highway Surveyors, Who were to be 26 

Boundaries of districts 27-30 

Citizens living in districts 27-30 



INDEX. 



223 



Page. 

First town council, Business of 31 

Special town meeting, 1774 31 

Committee appointed to visit Boston and inspect the circum- 
stances of the poor of that place • • . 31 

Report of committee on poor 32 

Subscription papers to be drawn, for gaining support for the 

poor of Boston 32 

Acknowledgment of supplies sent 33 

Town meeting, Record of, 1775 33 

Special town meeting 34 

Committee to collect arms chosen. 33-34 

Committee of inspection chosen 34 

Nineteen new firearms ordered to be bought 35 

Bounty offered recruits 35 

Vote passed relating to slaves 35 

Powder and lead apportioned 35 

Census ordered 35 

Salt ordered to be divided 35 

Hospital for inoculation for small pox 35 

Repeal of act of allegiance 35 

Preamble, preceding repeal 35-36 

Delegates appointed to Continental Congress 36 

" instructions of 36-37 

Iron or shod shovels and spades ordered to be procured 37 

Choice of Lieut-Colonel, 2d Regiment Militia 37 

Officers of the three Smithfield Militia Companies 37 

Smithfield and Cumberland Rangers -. 38 

Declaration or test 38 

Regiment ordered raised 38 

Counterfeiting of the bills of credit 38 

Permission given to move two barrels of rum 39 

Valuation of Smithfield, 1777 39 

Tender consciences, Committee appointed to alter an act for 

the relief of • • • 39 

Money ordered to supply soldiers' families with necessaries 40 

New Council of War 40 

Loans to the Continental Service 41 

Officers of the three militia companies 41 

Lottery authorized to repair bridge over Pawtucket river 41 

Money borrowed to pay bounties • 41 

Resolution passed at special town meeting, April, 1779 42 



224 INDEX. 

Page. 

Tax levied 43 

Illicit commerce with Block Island, Committee to investigate. 43 

Attempt to restore the Continental currency 44 

Stipulation of prices 44 

Quota of Smithfield to supply food to the army 45 

Ratable polls, 1780 45 

Officers of Cumberland and Smithfield Rangers 46 

Requisition for blankets, &c 46 

Delegate to Congress chosen 46 

Estimated acreage of town 47 

1781. Twelve hundred men ordered into service one month. . 47 
Corn for army 47 

1782. Ratable value of Smithfield 47 

Vote passed at town meeting against buying and selling 

slaves 47-48 

Instructions to delegate to General Assembly 48-50 

Non-approval of paper money 51 

Circumstances of the poor enquired into 51 

Deputies instructed to procure more equal represen- 
tation in the General Assembly 51 

Keeping of poor, let out to lowest bidder 51 

Free schools, Committee appointed to examine act re- 
lating to 51 

Favorable report of committee 52 

Committee of ways and means chosen 52 

Number of schools agreed upon 52 

Price of day's work raised 52 

Calling of special town meetings, notices where to be 

posted 52 

Poor children ordered to be bound out 52 

Paper currency, Troubles arising from 53 

The State insulted 54-55 

Trouble between town and country, regarding the cele- 
bration of the 4th of July, in honor of the adoption 

of the Constitution by some of the States 55-57 

1790. Deficiency in the payment of tax, laid before General 

Assembly 57 

Convention of delegates at South Kingstown, to decide 
on the adoption of the new Constitution and its do- 
ings 57-58 

Providence society for promoting the abolition of slavery 

incorporated 58 



(I 



INDEX. 225 

Page . 

1791. Smithfield Grenadiers, chartered, and officers and mem- 

bers 58 

1792. Federal Protectors, incorporated as an independent 

company 59 

Federal officers and members 59-60 

Commissioner on boundary line between this State and 

Massachusetts appointed 60 

1797. Smithfield Third Library Company incorporated 60-61 

1805. Douglass turnpike,* Incorporators of 61 

Smithfield " " " 61 

Union Bank incorporated 61 

temporary directors of 61 

1807. Bridges voted to be rebuilt 61-62 

Lottery authorized to build meeting house 62 

1808. Smithfield School Society and incorporators 62 

Lottery authorized for the benefit of Academic Society 62 

Smithfield Academic Society incorporated 62 

1810. Smithfield Academy incorporated 62 

" " officers of 62 

" " lottery authorized to build 62-63 

1812. Greene Academy incorporated. Trustees appointed 

and lottery authorized 63 

Drafted men allowed additional compensation 63 

1814. Independent Smithfield Eifle Company incorporated 

and list of officers 63 

Smithfield Light Infantry Company incorporated and 

list of officers 64 

1818. New England Pacific Bank incorporated, with names 

of directors 64 

1820. First Cadet Company in Sixth Regiment incorporated 

and list of officers 64 

1821 . Town house voted to be built 64 

1822. Committee to repair bridge 64 

Baptist Society incorporated 65 

Smithfield Exchange Bank incorporated 65 

1823. Trouble with bridges — cotton factory taxed 65 

1824. Town voted in favor of constitution 65 

1826. Mineral Spring turnpike designated 65 

1827. Instructions to representatives 65 

1828. Smithfield Lime Rock Bank incorporated 66 

1832. St. James Church, Woonsocket Falls, incorporated... 66 

39 



226 INDEX. 

Page . 

1834. Providence County Bank incorporated 66 

Location and name changed 66 

1835. Seth Mowry farm purchased by the town ... 66 

Christ Church, Lonsdale, incorporated 67 

Emanuel Church, Manville, incorporated 67 

1836. Lime Rock Baptist Society incorporated 67 

1837. Instructions to and petition sent to the General Assem- 

bly 67-68 

1838. Lime Rock Library incorporated 68 

Division of town agitated 68 

1839. Instructions to town council 68-69 

1840. School committee chosen 69 

1841. Congregational Society of Woonsocket village incorpo- 

rated 70 

Delegates chosen to attend constitutional convention. . 70 

1842. Town meeting for the ratification of the constitution. . 70 

Vote for constitution 70 

Delegates chosen to attend another constitutional con- 
vention 70 

Town meeting and vote for constitution 71 

Revival of Wionkheig Library 71 

1843. Division of town again brought up 71 

Lonsdale Baptist Church incorporated 71 

1845. No license 72 

Central Falls Congregational Society incorporated 72 

Smithfield divided into voting districts, with bounda- 
ries of each 73 

1846. Smithfield Union Institute incorporated 73-74 

1850. Doings of June town meeting 74 

1851. School appropriation 74 

Vote relating to road or bridge building 74 

Safes for town records to be purchased 74 

St. Thomas Church, Greenville, incorporated 75 

1852. Appropriations for schools and highways 75 

Highway law ordered printed 75 

1853. Town treasurer not particular enough 75 

School appropriation 75 

Delegates chosen to another constitutional convention. 75 

Valley Falls Company incorporated 75 

Stillwater Reservoir Company incorporated 76 

1854. Dexter Lime Rock Company incorporated 76 



INDEX. 227 

Page. 

1854. School and highway appropriations 76 

Town Treasurer still careless 70 

Building ordered for insane poor 76 

1855. Moriah Library Association incorporated 76 

Report of June town meeting 76-77 

1856. Georgiaville Evangelical Society incorporated 77 

1858. Report of June town meeting 77-78 

1859. Hamlet Manufacturing Company incorporated 78 

1861. Annual town meeting, doings of, regarding soldiers' 

families 78 

Committee appointed to distribute money appropriated 

for soldiers' families 79 

1862. Record of annual and special town meetings 79-81 

Disbursements on account of soldiers' families for the 

year. . 81 

Smithfield United Society incorporated 28 

1863. Manville Co. incorporated 82 

Valuation of Smithfield 82 

1864. Freewill Baptist Church of Smithfield incorporated. . . 82 

War expenses of the town .• 82 

Soldiers' families, Further relief of 82 

1866-7. School appropriations 82 

1868. Bridge " 82 

1869. Various appropriations made 82-83 

1870. June town meeting, division of town again agitated. . . 83 
Committee appointed to confer with Woonsocket Com- 
mittee 83-84 

Vote taken upon division 84 

Committee appointed to investigate the mismanage- 
ment of the poor 84 

1871. Division again 85 

Vote taken 85 

Sketch of the various attempts at division 85-86 

CHAPTER III. 

Israel Wilkinson, Sketch of 87 

Oziel Wilkinson, " '• 87 

David Wilkinson, " " 88 

Samuel Slater, " " 88-93 

Slatersville, " " 94 



228 



INDEX. 



Page. 

Forestdale, Sketch of 94-95 

Branch Village, " " 95-96 

Waterford, " " 96 

F. M. Ballon, Sketch of 96 

C. B. Aklrich, " " 96 

Woonsocket Gas Co., Sketch of 96 

Enterprise Co., Woonsocket, Sketch of 96-97 

Globe Mills, " " " 97 

Woonsocket Co., '' " - 97-98 

Hamlet, " " 98-99 

Manville, " " 99-106 

Albion, " " 106-9 

Lonsdale, " " 109-10 

Valley Falls, " " 110-12 

Central Falls, " " 1 12-18 

T. D. Rice'& Co., " " 119-20 

Fales & Jenks, " " 120 

Weatherhead, Thompson & Co., Sketch of 121 

M. B. Arnold & Co., " "...., 121 

Pawtucket Hair Cloth Co. , " " 121-4 

Central Falls Woolen Mill, " " 124-5 

Stafford M'fg Co., " " 125-7 

C. C. Holland, " " 127 

Thurber, Horton & Wood, " " 127 

Cushmam & Fuller, " •« 127 

E. L. Freeman's Printing- House, " " 127-9 

Allenville, " " 129 

Greenville, " " 129-30 

Spragueville, " " 130 

Stillwater, " " 130-1 

Georgiaville, " " 131 

Georgiaville & Bernon Manufactory, " " 132-8 

Union Village, " " 138 

Valley of the Moshassuck 141-4 

Division of the town 144 

Act dividing the town 144-55 

Act in addition to and in amendment to act dividing the town 155 

Sketch of Smithfield 155 

" " Slater and boundaries 156 

" " new Smithfield and boundaries 157-8 

" " Lincoln and boundaries 158-9 



' INDEX. 229 

APPENDIX A. 

Page. 

List of citizens who have held the offices of Members of Con- 
tinental Congress 161 

Speakers of House of Representatives, R. I 1G1 

Presidential Electors 161 

Chief Justice of Supreme Court 161 

Assistant Justices " " 161 

Justices Court of Common Pleas 162 

APPENDIX B. 

Assistants and Senators in the General Assembly, from the town 
of Smithfield, from 1731 to 1798: 

Assistants 163 

Senators 163-4 



APPENDIX C. 

Deputies and Representatives in the General Assembly: 

Deputies from 1731 to 1826 inclusive 165-78 

Representatives from 1824 to 1870 inclusive 178-82 

• APPENDIX D. 

Members of Town Council from 1731 to 1871, inclusive 183-98 

Town Treasurers, 1731 to 1870 199 

Town Clerks, 1731 to 1870 199 

Moderators, 1731 to 1870 200-2 

Town divided into school districts 202 

School Committees, 1828 to 1870 . . . fc 202-6 

Examination of teachers provided for 207 

Examining Committees, 1840 to 1845 inclusive 207 

APPENDIX E. 

List of officers of the militia belonging to Smithfield, from 

1775 to 1789 inclusive 207-9 



230 INDEX. 

List of officers and men who enlisted in the service of the United 
.States from Smithfield during the war of the rebellion: 

Page. 

First Regiment Detached Militia 209 

Second " R. I. Volunteers 210-11 

Third " " Heavy Artillery 211-12 

Fourth " " Volunteers 212-13 

Fifth " " Heavy Artillery 213 

Seventh " " Volunteers 214 

Ninth " " " 214-16 

Tenth " " " 216 

Eleventh" " " 216-17 

Twelfth " " " 217 

Fourteenth Regiment R. I. Heavy Artillery 217 

First " " Light " 217-18 

Tenth R. I. Light Battery 218 

First Regiment R. I. Cavalry 218 

Second <• " " 219 

Third " " " 219 

Seventh Squadron R. I. Cavalry 219 

Fifteenth Regiment Massachusetts Volunteers 219 

United States Chasseurs 219 

Fourteenth Regiment U. S. Infantry 219 

Twenty-fourth Regiment Massachusetts Volunteers 219 

In other Massachusetts Regiments 220 

Population of Smithfield 220 



fciO J 



5 &9 



